Costa calls for an extension of school breakfasts and lunch for students

WASHINGTON - As children start the new school year, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee is joining an effort to end school meal stigma and ensure 10 million American children in need have access to food. Costa is calling on congressional leadership for an extension of federally-provided school breakfast and lunch for students in the upcoming continuing resolution.

The lawmakers wrote, “Nationwide, providing greater access to school meals would help feed an estimated 10 million students who would have previously not qualified — helping make life more affordable for families. Additionally, school districts spend, on average, $100,000 a year on administrative costs related to the federal school meals program. Funding school meals and eliminating red tape and bureaucracy can help feed many children on the cusp of the federal threshold, while also supporting teachers and school staff who know their students best.”

“We cannot allow another day to pass by without providing for our hungry children. There is nothing partisan about this — feeding our children is key to our long-term competitiveness as a nation.” wrote the lawmakers.

 A copy of the letter is available here.