Statement Attributed to Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer
“Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, applauds the House of Representatives for passage of the Build Back Better Act, which would increase investments to help end child hunger. The bill includes funding for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program, which will help 29 million children access food during the summer, and an expansion of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which will expand free school meals to nearly nine million additional children. It also continues the recent expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC), making its full value available to the families of 27 million children who previously earned too little to receive the full benefit. Together, these provisions will provide significant help toward helping children who often do not know where they will get their next meal, particularly in communities of color who suffer disproportionately from hunger.
“As the House finalizes consideration of FY22 appropriations, Feeding America emphasizes the need for additional investments in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This innovative program, which moves food from farmers and producers to food banks and to our neighbors in need, is an additional essential step in fighting to end child hunger. Food banks continue to see demand for services above pre-pandemic levels, and additional investments will be necessary to ensure we can continue to help our communities.
“All children must have adequate nutrition to learn, grow, and thrive. We urge the Senate to act quickly in passing a bill that also includes these critical provisions for our nation’s children. We look forward to continuing to work with Congress and the administration to advance policies and programs to solve child hunger.”
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on X.com.