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Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) joined with U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) in introducing legislation today to expand a popular federal program that provides meals to low-income children during the summer.
The Summer Simplified Food Program, which is currently available in only 26 states, is a federal child nutrition program that provides up to two meals a day to children age 18 and under during the summer. New Jersey is one of the 24 states currently not eligible for the program. In 2001, the Simplified Food Program was piloted in 13 states and over the next three summers child participation by those states in summer nutrition programs grew by 26 percent while participation in the rest of the country fell 18 percent.
"The summer is an especially difficult time for low-income families who depend upon school meals to feed their children," Pallone said. "Children who go hungry during their summer vacation are less prepared to learn when they return to school. This legislation will make it much easier for all children to grow and develop so they are ready for academic success when they go back to school."
During the school year, over 15 million children receive free or reduced-price school lunch, but fewer than 3 million have access to summer meals. This is primarily due to complex paperwork and accounting requirements for program sponsors. The Simplified Summer Food Program eliminates complicated accounting and decreases administrative costs while providing sponsors with the full federal reimbursement.
This program has proven to benefit children and families, as well as local agencies and local non-profits struggling to help low-income children. If program operators are able to save money on food, they can provide additional programming for children. As a result, more activities can attract more children at the program sites, helping them stay safe when school is out.
"Research demonstrates that being well-fed is an important first step towards improving children's educational achievement," Pallone continued. "Children in New Jersey and other states should have easy access to the nutritious food their bodies need and quality activities to keep them learning and engaged throughout the summer."
Additionally, Pallone spearheaded a letter signed by 28 of his colleagues to appropriators to ask that the program be expanded through an appropriations bill this year. In FY2006, the pilot project was expanded to six more states through the Agriculture Appropriations bill.
States currently not included in the Simplified Summer Food Program: Alabama, California, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. |
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