Funding Esty Championed for Child Summer Meals, Lead Poisoning Prevention Included in Year-End Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) today applauded the inclusion of provisions to support summer nutrition for low-income children and prevent lead contamination in our water infrastructure in the continuing resolution to fund the government through April 28, 2017.

“Every child needs and deserves healthy meals and clean water. These are not partisan issues,” Esty said. “This funding represents smart, critical investments in our nation’s children, and I’m proud we could work in a bipartisan way to make them a reality.

“The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program that this bill funds has proven to be effective in Connecticut and several other states to reduce childhood hunger and provide thousands more children with nutritious meals during the summer than traditional programs.

“In Connecticut, corroding water infrastructure has led to elevated lead levels in a number of cities and towns, which is a health risk for kids and families in our state. The funds made available by this bill will help communities upgrade their water infrastructure to address lead and other contaminants and expand research and services to deal with childhood lead poisoning across the country.”

In March, Esty led a letter to House leaders, co-signed by 66 of her colleagues, calling for continued funding for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program, which provides children in low-income households with special debit cards that are redeemable at retailers specifically authorized to provide food assistance. In the eight states where it has been implemented, the program has reached between 30 and 75 percent of eligible children, compared with only 16-to-17 percent typically reached by traditional summer meals programs.

In April, after the Associated Press reported that 14 water systems in Connecticut contained lead levels in excess of federal guidelines, Esty wrote to federal government leaders calling for funds to protect residents’ access to safe drinking water.

###