The International Fresh Produce Association is praising recently introduced legislation that will expand access to school meals and expand WIC nutrition benefits to older children.
IFPA commended leadership of the House Committee on Education and Labor for its recent introduction of the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, according to a news release. The legislation includes several of IFPA’s recommendations including expanding access to school meals, providing funding for school kitchen equipment, extending WIC benefits to age six, and researching the impact of meal times on fruit and vegetable consumption.
“We applaud Committee Chair Bobby Scott and Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Chair Suzanne Bonamici for continuing to build on Congressional efforts to expand school and summer meal programs and boost access to programs like WIC, “ IFPA Vice President of Nutrition and Health Mollie Van Lieu said in the release. “As the CNR process moves forward, we encourage Congress to identify additional ways to increase children’s access to fruits and vegetables, like adding a dedicated benefit to Summer EBT and expanding the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.”
Specifically, the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act will:
- Expand access to school meals;
- Preserve the future of school meal programs;
- Modernize the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children;
- Address food insecurity during the summer;
- Improve school meal capacity and sustainability; and
- Strengthen the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
