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Thread: The nutrition provisions in the bill the House Education and Labor Committee is considering today as part of the #COVIDRelief package would help Americans struggling to afford enough food. https://edlabor.house.gov/imo/media/doc/FY21%20Budget%20Reconciliation%20Budget%20Reconciliation.pdf /1
Millions of people report not getting enough to eat, far above pre-pandemic figures. Especially concerning is the sharp rise in the number of kids in this situation over the past year, for whom not getting enough to eat can have lifelong consequences. /2
Reflecting years of systemic racism and racial inequities, food hardship is far worse for Black and Latino children. Up to 31% of kids in Black households, up to 27% in Latino households, and up to 11% in white households live in households where kids didn’t eat enough. /3
The Ed & Labor Committee bill extends the Pandemic-EBT program, allowing states to continue this important school meals replacement program over the summer, at a time when food insecurity often rises for many kids. More on P-EBT here: /4 https://www.cbpp.org/blog/new-usda-guidance-clarifies-states-p-ebt-flexibility-to-mitigate-child-hunger
The bill will also make a significant investment in WIC. This funding will temporarily increase benefits and support modernization and innovation in the program to reach more eligible low-income families. /5 https://www.cbpp.org/blog/biden-plans-wic-investment-could-improve-maternal-and-child-health-reduce-racial-disparities
Participating in WIC leads to better health for infants, more nutritious diets and better health care for children, and higher academic achievement for students. Connecting more eligible women and young children to WIC could also reduce stark racial disparities in these areas. /6
These provisions, along with others like those in the Agriculture Committee bill, will help ensure that Americans can get the nutrition they need. The Committees should quickly approve these bills, and the House and Senate should act to pass the #COVIDRelief package. /7
