WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) pushed for Ohio priorities as the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry begins work to reauthorize critical childhood nutrition programs. Brown pressed witnesses at a committee hearing this week about the importance of funding federal programs, including the Summer Food Service Program and the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program.
“All Ohio children should be able to count on healthy, nutritious meals year-round,” said Brown. “By investing in child nutrition programs, we’re investing in the health of our kids as well as their future. As we work to reauthorize these critical programs, I will continue fighting to make sure no Ohio children go hungry.”
In 2016, Brown secured the inclusion of the Hunger Free Summer for Kids Act in the package passed by the Senate Agriculture committee. Brown’s bipartisan Hunger Free Summer for Kids Act would increase access to summer federal child nutrition programs by making it easier for children in rural areas who can’t get to a feeding site to still get nutritious meals and allowing children to eat meals off-site in case certain conditions are met.
Brown also continues to work to expand nutrition programs for women and low-income children, bolster the Child and Adult Care Food Program, grow farm-to-school programs, and help school districts update food equipment to help schools use more fresh ingredients in meals served to students.
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