An expanded school lunch program that has fed an additional 10,000,000 children expires at the end of June.
The program was set to be renewed in a 1.5 trillion dollar Biden Administration spending bill, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asked for — and was granted — its removal.
Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow chairs the committee that oversees the school lunch program. She says it's disappointing that Republican focus isn't on eliminating child hunger. "They're more than willing to do huge tax cuts for wealthy people or big oil companies or other corporations and it's just not a priority for them when it comes to so many things that average people need, or children," she says.
Going back to pre-COVID rules means parents will be required to apply for reduced or free lunch. Under the new system, schools would just ask to be reimbursed.
Stabenow says she is still working with her Senate colleagues to work out a solution to keep the program going, and hopes they can get something done before it expires.
