Episcopal Public Policy Network Urges Passage of Child Nutrition Reauthorization

The Episcopal Church has long supported federal nutrition initiatives, and we are committed to ensuring that child nutrition programs are reviewed, improved, and reauthorized for kids today and kids tomorrow.

The topic of this year's Offering of Letters is Survive and Thrive, a campaign to increase funding for funding of global programs that addresss nutrition and health of mothers, newborns, and young children,

The campaign is not too different from Feed Our Children, the topic of the 2015 Offering of Letters, which urged Congress to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, which was due to expire in September 2015.

While there was no action on the reauthorization in 2015, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bipartisan child nutrition reauthorization initiative in January of 2016. There is some movement in the House.

According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), the House Education & Workforce Committee is currently developing its reauthorization bill.  FRAC has been following the reauthorization closely and provides updates via this site.

The Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) remains very much on the radar of Bread for the World and some of our faith and secular partners. This week, the Episcopal Public Policy Network sent out an alert urging its members and supporters to contact Congress urging federal legislators to move to approve this important piece of legislation.

"For kids across the U.S., summer vacation is just around the corner, yet the summer months can also be a time of acute food insecurity for youth who depend upon school meals for their daily nutrition," said the EPPN, "The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act supports millions of low-income children on a daily basis, offering them access to free or reduced-price nutritious meals, including summer meal options, that promote health, educational achievement, and physical development. The laws governing this Act expired last year, and Episcopalians are now calling on Congress to swiftly pass a strong child nutrition bill."

"The Episcopal Church has long supported federal nutrition initiatives, and we are committed to ensuring that child nutrition programs are reviewed, improved, and reauthorized for kids today and kids tomorrow.

Go here to contact your members of Congress today and ask them for a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization!

The EPPN emphasized that this is a coalitional effort. The alert included links to an Interfaith Statement on Child Nutrition Reauthorization, the  National Council of Churches Policy on the Rights of Children and a FRAC Briefing on the issue.