Will the U.S. Finally Take a Holistic Approach to Ending Child Hunger?
Over the last 18 months, an alarming rise in child hungerover 17 million children did not have consistent access to enough food in 2020caught the attention of many federal lawmakers, prompting them to call for an overdue evaluation of the countrys child nutrition programs. In March, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry kicked off a process that involves updating a broad collection of child hunger and nutrition programs. Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) is supposed to occur every five years, but Congress hasnt reviewed it since 2010, when President Obamas Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act made historic changes to school meal nutrition standards. Now six years late, lawmakers and advocates say the COVID-19 pandemic and a racial justice reckoning have created the political will to not only ensure that the countrys young people are fed, but that the programs also address systemic inequalities. The Biden administration is supporting decisive, progressive action. Among other things the pandemic revealed about our country was the fact that there is pervasive inequality, especially racial inequity, and then the crucial role that federal programs can play during a national crisis, said Mamiko Vuillemin, senior manager of policy and advocacy at FoodCorps, an organization that works to improve school meals and food education. We definitely see school food as a way to address racial injustices and inequalities that we have in this country.  Many others do, too, and as CNR picks up steam, senators and representatives are introducing marker bills related to nutrition education, farm-to-school initiatives, and programs that provide nutritious food to low-income children before they reach school age, in hopes that they can provide language that can be worked into the CNR. Last month, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), along with Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin), introduced legislation that would make school meals free for all students. While providing universally free school meals was once a controversial idea, more than 360 organizations signed on to support the bill, including moderate groups that represent a wide range of interests. In a statement of support, the American Heart Association noted the rise in child hunger that occurred as a result of the pandemic and that Black and Hispanic households were more food insecure compared to white households. Every child deserves access to healthy meals, [and] this bill would successfully remove barriers and ensure children are getting the nutrition they need to thrive, the statement said. Lawmakers have also introduced three different marker bills that would expand access to meals when school is not in session, with some provisions directly informed by pandemic relief programs. The Stop Child Hunger Act of 2021, for instance, would make the electronic benefit program P-EBT permanent. While the pandemic has created a new set of challenges, it has also created opportunities for us to improve childrens lives. Congress gave schools new tools to reach more families in need, said Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) during the March hearing. We can apply these lessons and creative thinking to how we reach children during the summer, on weekends, and after school. I look forward to passing a strong bipartisan child nutrition bill that helps our kids get healthier, not hungrier.  Advocates say the momentum around the CNR updates gives lawmakers the chance to build on the documented successes of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. It may also signal policymakers broader shift toward embracing the idea that childrens access to nutritious food is a fundamental responsibility of government. An Emphasis on Nutrition