June 30, 2022

ICYMI: Manchin Supports, Senate Passes Bill to Extend Summer Meal Program Flexibilities for West Virginia Kids

Charleston, WV – Last week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Keep Kids Fed Act, which U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) supported, and was signed into law by President Biden. The Keep Kids Fed Act will extend school nutrition waivers, increase reimbursements, and other critical actions to ensure children do not go hungry.

“No child should ever go to bed hungry, and it is one of my top priorities to ensure every child in West Virginia and across the country has a meal to eat and a warm place to sleep every night,” Senator Manchin said. “I’m proud to support this crucial legislation to address the needs of our children and will continue working to address food insecurity across the Mountain State.”

The Keep Kids Fed Act will:
  • Extend flexibilities for summer meals in 2022. This will make it easier to feed all students during the summer months, particularly those in rural areas, through flexible options like meal delivery and grab-and-go.
  • Extend school meal program administrative and paperwork flexibilities through the 2022-2023 school year. This will help schools streamline their meal operations and continue operating despite supply chain disruptions.
  • Increase the reimbursement rate for school lunch and school breakfast to help offset the increased cost of food and operating expenses for schools. Schools will receive an additional 40 cents more for each lunch and 15 cents more for each breakfast served.
  • Help daycares and home providers in the Child and Adult Care Food Program offset increased costs by providing an additional 10 cents per meal and streamlining reimbursement rates.