WASHINGTON—The National Governors Association today released the following statement on Congress’ reauthorization of the federal child nutrition programs:
“Governors have prioritized addressing child hunger through federal child nutrition programs. The Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act (ICNEA) of 2016 gives states and schools the flexibility they need to focus on feeding hungry children.
Specifically, ICNEA:
- Improves how states work with schools to ensure compliance with federal requirements;
- Builds on the recent success of the federal summer meals program; and
- Allows schools to keep meals affordable for all students.
The existing Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) has allowed governors to increase students’ access to healthy meals, thereby improving learning in schools. The Senate already recognized the importance of this provision when it preserved CEP in a recent child nutrition reauthorization bill. We now urge the House to follow its lead and reverse potentially damaging changes that would cost students access to meals.
As Congress moves forward with reauthorization, the nation’s governors ask for improved flexibility and preservation of the parts of the law that work to feed America’s children.”
