If Congress does not act now to make universal school meals permanent, millions of children will soon be left behind--and children of color will be hit hardest. Download our infographic to learn more about the ways universal meals will advance racial equity and join us in telling Congress to make them permanent!
Read MoreAll 17 million children who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to access nutritious meals—nearly a quarter of all children in America—will receive additional assistance starting in October. This week, the Biden administration approved an historic expansion of the program, permanently raising benefit levels for the first time in more than 45 years. It is a long-overdue expansion and a critical step towards ending child poverty, advancing racial equity, and improving child well-being.
Read MoreRecognizing that hunger is a moral and political failure with devastating consequences for our children and nation, President Biden exercised his authority last Thursday to issue an executive order to strengthen federal nutrition assistance. This executive order includes a number of provisions to address shortcomings in existing COVID relief efforts and provide immediate relief for millions of families struggling to put food on the table.
Read MoreWhile the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act made some preliminary and temporary improvements to SNAP, Congress must do more to help children and families facing increased financial strain and hunger.
Read MoreAs COVID-19 ravages communities across our nation, more children are going to bed hungry and worrying about where their next meal will come from.
Read MoreToday the Senate will take up the House-passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act, as the next step in providing relief from the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreThe dismantling of welfare in 1996 ushered in a decade-long increase in the number of children living in families with income below half the poverty line, according to a new analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, but that increase has been reversed by the rise of SNAP as the country’s most effective deep-poverty-fighting tool.
Read MoreIn the President’s Budget, the Trump Administration made its priorities clear: additional tax cuts for wealthy corporations and individuals over food assistance for hungry children and families.
Read MoreToday, the Trump administration published a final rule that will weaken SNAP by imposing time limits and work requirements. By USDA’s own estimates, this change will result in nearly 700,000 people losing benefits. Earlier this year, CDF urged the Administration to withdraw this rule as well as other recent proposals to take food from hungry families.
Read MoreThe Trump administration recently sidestepped Congress and issued a proposed rule that would result in more than 3 million people losing food assistance and more than 500,000 children losing their automatic eligibility for free school meals.
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