Credit: USDA

April 2, 2022 - Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and 49 other Senate colleagues in introducing the Support Kids Not Red Tape Act to extend USDA school meal flexibilities from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023.

These flexibilities have been crucial to feeding children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 90% of our schools are still facing funding and other ongoing challenges, and these flexibilities give our schools and summer meal programs much-needed support to deal with ongoing food service issues and keep kids fed. The bill will also help schools transition back to normal meal operations under the National School Lunch Program. USDA requested this authority be extended in the omnibus.

“I’m committed to making sure every Nevada schoolchild has access to affordable, nutritious meals. We need to continue these supports into next year and ensure our kids have what they need to stay healthy.”

Senator Cortez Masto has worked throughout the pandemic to ensure that students had adequate nutrition. Her Child Nutrition Relief Act to extend these same USDA waivers was passed as part of a September 2020 government funding measure; she also supported the American Rescue Plan, which contained $13 billion for nutrition programs.
Source: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto