We’ve already discussed how House Republicans want to insert waivers for healthy school lunch standards into the upcoming agricultural appropriations bill, but apparently that’s not even close to being the most egregious change.
House Republicans also want to alter a program that provides food to low-income students during the summer when school is not in session to exclude urban children.
And in a surprising twist, the bill language specifies that only rural areas are to benefit in the future from funding requested by the administration this year to continue a modest summer demonstration program to help children from low-income households — both urban and rural — during those months when school meals are not available.
Since 2010, the program has operated from an initial appropriation of $85 million, and the goal has been to test alternative approaches to distribute aid when schools are not in session. The White House asked for an additional $30 million to continue the effort, but the House bill provides $27 million for what’s described as an entirely new pilot program focused on rural areas only.
The program is intended to provide assistance to all children, but House Republicans are looking to exclude urban children.
Politico describes this as a “surprising twist,” but it’s actually not surprising at all if you’ve paid any attention to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.
As Paul Ryan would undoubtedly say, how can inner city children learn the value of work if we feed them during the summer? Let Charles Murray tell you all about it.
