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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

House USDA budget would limit special meals program to rural children, target lunch standards

In a surprise move House Republicans on Monday proposed a $20.9 billion budget for agriculture and food safety programs that includes language that "specifies that only rural areas are to benefit in the future from funding requested by the administration this year to continue a modest summer demonstration program to help children from low-income households—both urban and rural—during those months when school meals are not available," David Rogers reports for Politico.

"Since 2010, the program has operated from an initial appropriation of $85 million, and the goal has been to test alternative approaches to distribute aid when schools are not in session," Rogers writes. "The White House asked for an additional $30 million to continue the effort, but the House bill provides $27 million for what’s described as an entirely new pilot program focused on rural areas only."

"Democrats were surprised to see urban children were excluded," Rogers writes "And the GOP had some trouble explaining the history itself. But a spokeswoman confirmed that the intent of the bill is a pilot project in 'rural areas' only."

The bill also opens "the door for starchy, white potatoes to be added to the list of qualified vegetables under the WIC supplemental feeding program for pregnant women and their young children," Rogers writes. "The Agriculture Department would also be required to establish a waiver process for local school districts which have found it too costly to comply with tougher nutrition standards for school lunch and breakfast programs." (Read more)

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