by reimbursing free school meals at the higher summer rate
during the regular school year; and
WHEREAS, Through the SFSP, SSO and several other waivers,
school nutrition programs distributed grab-and-go meals at
drive-through pick-up sites and delivered food directly to
students or along bus routes; and
WHEREAS, Subsequent extensions of the waiver authority
enabled school nutrition programs to continue to safely serve
students over the past two years whether they were learning
remotely or in person; and
WHEREAS, Offering free meals to all students without the need
for an application or immediate payment sped up meal
distribution; and
WHEREAS, Economic hardships triggered by the COVID-19
pandemic have caused rates of food insecurity among households
to skyrocket; and
WHEREAS, Households are more likely to be food insecure if
they are members of a minority race or ethnicity; and
WHEREAS, Food insecurity has been proven to negatively impact
the social, emotional and behavioral development of school-age
children and adolescents and can increase a student's risk for
additional mental health issues; and
WHEREAS, Healthy meals provided by school nutrition programs
play an important role in supporting obesity prevention, overall
student health and academic achievement by improving diets and
combating hunger; and
WHEREAS, A survey conducted by FNS in November 2021 found
that:
(1) 92% of school food authorities reported experiencing
challenges due to supply chain disruptions;
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