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As USDA school meal waivers are set to expire nationwide, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today led more than 100 House members in writing to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and demanding that he immediately reverse course to extend all school meal waivers for the 2020-2021 school year. Perdue rejected Pingree’s previous calls for a school meal waiver extension—an important program to mitigate hunger during the coronavirus pandemic. Full Plates Full Potential estimates that if food insecurity in Maine rises by 40%, as has been predicted, 112,000 kids in Maine could experience hunger. The lawmakers’ letter is available online here.

“At a moment when as many as 17 million children did not get enough to eat this summer, this decision is not only based in an incorrect understanding of the law, but it is also irresponsible and cruel,” said the lawmakers in their letter to Perdue.

“As we discussed in our letter to you on August 7, 2020, your decision not to extend these waivers will make it more difficult, if not impossible, for school meal programs to continue to operate this fall, and for families to access nutritious meals for their children,” the lawmakers continued. “Further, neglecting to extend these waivers will exacerbate the already perilous financial situation school meal programs are facing. We therefore urge you to immediately reverse your decision to not extend all school meal waivers.”

In March, Congress authorized the use of waivers in the MEALS Act and the COVID-19 Child Nutrition Response Act in order to continue to provide school meals for children during the pandemic. Schools and non-profit partners across the country have utilized these waivers to prevent child hunger. 

Nationwide, current USDA school meal waivers expire, Monday, August 31. USDA did recently extend the summer meals waivers for states that start school late, but only until September 30^th or the first day of school, whichever comes first. USDA’s decision not to extend the waiver program for the entire school year will make it more difficult for school meal programs to continue to operate this fall and will result in children losing access to healthy meals. 

On August 10th, Congresswoman Pingree and 120 House colleagues wrote to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and urged him to renew waivers for programs which address food insecurity among children. Specifically, the members urged the Department to extend waivers for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and to waive the Area Eligibility Requirement during the entirety of school year 2020-2021. On August 21st, the USDA denied the request to extend school meal waivers for the whole school year. 

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