Maryland Hunger Solutions Deeply Disappointed Child Nutrition Isn’t Prioritized in Omnibus Bill, Calls on Congress to Give USDA Waiver Authority in Final Bill
Statement attributable to Michael J. Wilson, Director, Maryland Hunger Solutions
WASHINGTON, March 9, 2022 — Maryland Hunger Solutions is deeply disappointed that the extension of the child nutrition waivers was not included in the Omnibus spending bill posted today by the Senate Appropriations Committee. If the waiver extension is not included in the final bill, the waivers will end on June 30, 2022, causing millions of children to face a hunger cliff when they lose access to summer and school meals.
These waivers have been critical in supporting nutrition operations so that children across the state have access to school, afterschool, and summer meals throughout the pandemic, and they are still needed to help schools and families recover from and respond to the economic, health, and educational fallout.
A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey of school nutrition departments highlights the ongoing need for the waivers. An estimated 92 percent of school nutrition departments reported supply chain challenges in school year 2021-2022, with the public, larger, and rural ones being more likely to report struggling. Nearly three in four school nutrition departments reported staffing challenges. Both have created untold administrative challenges and increased program costs.
Under this proposed bill, schools, youth-serving and community-based organizations, and childcare providers will lack the additional resources and flexibility needed to effectively provide meals to the millions of children who need them.
Hungry children can’t wait. We urge Congress to reconsider, and build a bipartisan bill that includes child nutrition waiver authority in the omnibus bill before its final passage.
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About Maryland Hunger Solutions
Maryland Hunger Solutions works to end hunger and improve the nutrition, health, and well-being of Maryland residents.
