Roberts Leads Letter Urging Flexibility for School Meals

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts is calling on Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to provide flexibilities for school meals and child nutrition. Leading lawmakers in a letter to Perdue, the Kansas Republican said, "As the school year begins, the challenges brought on by the COVID emergency persist." The letter asks Perdue to continue using the child nutrition program waiver authority to assist school food authorities and non-school sponsoring organizations.

The lawmakers urge USDA to utilize program flexibilities, grants or reimbursements that assist school food authorities with procuring, preparing, and serving meals in a manner consistent with COVID-19 school re-opening guidelines. The lawmakers say schools are working to provide children meals while schools explore various and blended models of in-person and virtual classroom sessions.

The letter also seeks support for non-school sponsors providing meals to children on remote-learning days or when in-classroom learning is unavailable. The letter includes 20 Senators, requesting the action from USDA.

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