Rep. Blunt Rochester Joins Leaders From Usda And Colonial School District To Highlight Importance Of Nutrition Waiver Program

Statement

Today, Representative Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) joined the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, Stacy Dean, and Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Mae Wu, along with leaders from William Penn High School and the Colonial School District to highlight the importance of extending the USDA{Child}Nutrition Waiver Program.

"Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our children and their schools have had to navigate challenge after challenge," said Blunt Rochester. "In order to help ensure that our students were able to learn without an empty stomach, Congress took action to authorize USDA to give schools flexibility when feeding our children. Over the past two years, schools across Delaware and the country have relied on that flexibility to feed their students and while we are entering a new phase in our battle against COVID, schools still need the flexibility that's been afforded them to navigate issues like discontinued menu items, food shortages due to supply chain disruptions, and higher prices. That's why I was proud to join leaders from the USDA and William Penn High School to highlight the need for Congress to extend these waivers - an issue I'll continue to champion in Washington."

"USDA is committed to doing everything we can to support leaders running school meals and summer feeding programs during this difficult time," said USDA Deputy Under Secretary Dean. "Today we came to listen to the experts on the ground -- school nutrition professionals- as we work together to help schools get the resources and flexibilities they need."

Blunt Rochester is a cosponsor of H.R. 6613, the Keeping School Meals Flexible Act, which would extend the USDA's waiver authority through the 2022-23 school year.

Background on the Child Nutrition Waiver Program:

School shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic meant that schools needed additional flexibility to serve kids meals while they were attending school virtually. In response, Congress authorized the USDA to issue a variety of waivers that increased flexibilities for schools, including the option to deliver meals directly to students' doors or for students to retrieve meals at a location near their homes. These waivers have also increased the reimbursement rate for the regular school year to match the summer reimbursement rate, which allows schools to provide more nutritious meals. Unfortunately, all of the waivers will expire on June 30, 2022. In 2019, Delaware schools served 800,000 meals to children, but because of the waivers were able to serve 3.5 million children last summer alone. Expiring waivers will make meals less accessible, especially during a time when food costs are rising, and many families continue to face financial instability.

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