Intervention Categories: Finance policy and financial aid; Aid distributed to community groups
Level of Jurisdiction: Federal
Overview: The U.S. Congress ensured provision of food from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly known as Food Stamps) to children who normally receive free and reduced lunch at school, as part of phase 2 legislation. Phase 3 legislation provided an additional $8.8 billion in funding for flexible food provision for schools and students.
This provision is executed through individual state plans. A school must be closed at least five days in order for a student”s family to qualify for assistance.
In addition, phase 2 legislation allows the U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase funding for states and programs through the MEALS Act and Child Nutrition Response Act to provide services such as school breakfasts and lunches to low-income students and their families while schools are closed. The legislation also waives certain administrative requirements due to COVID-19, such as the form and setting in which meals are delivered.
Full details here: https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/Families%20First%20summary.pdf