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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Press Office |
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Stabenow,
Lugar Introduce Legislation to Provide More Children with Healthy
Afterschool Meals
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| WASHINGTON
—U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) today
announced introduction of legislation to provide more children with healthy
meals when the school day ends. The Stabenow-Lugar AFTERschool Meal Act
would make important changes to increase participation in the nationwide
school meal program, allowing children from all states to benefit from
this exceptional initiative. Afterschool programs take on an additional
importance as parents increasingly work longer, non-traditional hours,
and more and more children require afterschool care. “Hunger does not end when the school bell rings for the day, especially during these tough economic times. That’s why we must ensure that our most vulnerable children, whether in elementary school, middle school, or high school, receive a healthy meal,” said Stabenow. “This legislation will help expand the nationwide school meal program and enroll more children, while providing the necessary funding to afterschool programs to help cover the additional cost. Americans from all walks of life can agree on the importance of making sure that children affected by the loss of a parent’s paycheck still have access to nutritious meals, meals which serve as a necessary foundation for academic achievement and personal well-being.” “Nationwide expansion of the AFTERschool Meal Act will boost the nutritional safety net for children enrolled in after school settings,” Lugar said. “I have witnessed the success of streamlining administrative barriers in the Summer Food Service Program. As states, and eventually the country, adopted the simpler, easier guidelines, sponsorship increased and more children received nutritious meals year-round.” Under current law, afterschool programs can serve a full meal to children 12-years-old and younger and receive financial reimbursement or USDA commodities through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). But in ten states—Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and West Virginia — afterschool programs are authorized to provide suppers to more children (18 and under) and with less paperwork and less red tape. The Stabenow-Lugar bill would allow all states to be eligible to participate in the full afterschool meal program. Schools would be eligible to receive reimbursement either through CACFP or through the Russell School Lunch/Breakfast Program, removing an unnecessary administrative burden. Grants would also be authorized to help states with start-up costs. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is also a
co-sponsor of the legislation. |