Congressman Rick Larsen's Online Office

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded the Administration for re-committing to the goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.  Earlier today, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack delivered a speech at the National Press Club outlining how the Administration will work to reduce childhood hunger and improve the health and nutrition of American children.

“According to data compiled by the Food Research and Action Center, nearly one in six families in my Congressional District suffers from hunger.   We need to do more to make sure that all Americans, and especially low-income children, are getting enough to eat,” said Rep. Larsen. “I applaud Secretary Vilsack for outlining a comprehensive vision to end childhood hunger, and I look forward to working with the Obama Administration to pass a strong Child Nutrition reauthorization bill in 2010.”

Larsen also urged the Administration to consider legislation he has introduced to help low-income kids access nutritious food after school and during the summer months, the Ensuring All Students Year-round (EASY) Access to Meals and Snacks Act (HR 4274).  This legislation has earned the endorsement of a range of national and Washington state anti-hunger organizations, which submitted letters to Congress in support of the bill.  In a letter to Secretary Vilsack earlier this month, Larsen outlined how the EASY Access to Meals and Snacks Act will help achieve the goal of eliminating childhood hunger by 2015.

“The EASY Access to Meals and Snacks Act will bring us a step closer to ending childhood hunger by helping non-profits and local governments provide low-income kids with nutritious meals 365 days a year,” said Rep. Larsen. “I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to enact this important legislation.”

Under current law, organizations that run summer camps can receive federal reimbursement for the meals they provide to low-income children through the Summer Food Service Program.  During the school year, however, these same organizations have to apply for reimbursement through a separate program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and then only receive approximately 70 cents for each snack they provide to a low-income child.  Some organizations simply opt not to apply for federal reimbursement for snacks during the school year because the paperwork is too cumbersome and the reimbursement rates are so low.

The EASY Access to Meals and Snacks Act will allow organizations that serve meals during the summer to also receive federal reimbursement for up to one meal and one snack served during after-school programs. 

The Following Washington state Organizations Endorsed the EASY Access to Meals and Snacks Act:

Children’s Alliance
Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition
Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane County
Food Connection Tacoma
Food Lifeline
Loon Lake School District
Lutheran Public Policy Office
Minority Executive Directors Coalition
National Association of Social Workers WA
Nespelem Elementary School
Northwest Harvest
Nutrition First
Onalaska Schools
School’s Out Washington
Seattle Food Committee
The Nooksack Tribe
Touchet School District
University Food Bank
WA State Food and Nutrition Council
Within Reach
Yakama Mission

The Following National Organizations Endorsed the EASY Access to Meals and Snacks Act:

Afterschool Alliance
Americans for Indian Opportunity
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Bread for the World
Camp Fire USA
Community Food Security Coalition
Congressional Hunger Center
Feeding America
First Focus
Food for People Inc.
Food Research and Action Center
Forum for Youth Investment
Foundations, Inc.
Higher Achievement
National Association of Police Athletic/Activities Leagues, Inc.
National Council of Jewish Women
National Farm to School Network
National Institute on Out-of-School Time
National Recreation and Park Association
Save the Children
Copies of the endorsement letter are available upon request.

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