Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar argued Friday that free school meal waivers enacted early in the pandemic to forestall a surge in child hunger should be made permanent, a policy change that she characterized as a political, economic, and moral no-brainer. “We have an opportunity to prove that a government of the people, by the people, and for the people can still deliver big things,” said Omar (D-Minn.), the whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “And we can feed tens of millions of hungry kids while we do it. What’s there to even discuss?” Late last month, the House and Senate…
School Lunch Waivers
“No Child Should Go Hungry”: Democrats Push to Extend Universal School Meals
Democrats in both chambers of Congress are urging House and Senate leadership to help extend a school lunch waiver program that’s kept millions of children from going hungry over the past two years. In a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last Friday, a group of nine Democrats led by Rep. Katie Porter (D-California) asked the Democratic leader to schedule a vote to extend waivers for school meals for this week, ahead of the program’s scheduled expiration date on June 30. “With higher food costs forcing families to stretch their budgets, free school meals can bring down costs for…