LANSING, Mich., August 31, 2020 — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would continue providing nationwide waivers for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which allows students to receive school meals throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. State Rep. Sheryl Kennedy (D-Davison), who serves as the Democratic Vice Chair of the House Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations Subcommittee as well as a member of the School Aid and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded the decision.
“As our communities continue to reel from COVID-19, this is the kind of decisive action we need now to protect the well-being of Michigan’s children and their families,” said Kennedy. “Extending these waivers will be vital to ensuring our students have access to the nutritious meals they need to have a healthy, successful school year. These meals fuel the bright young minds of Michigan and the rest of the nation; our future depends on them.”
Support for a waiver extension has come from both sides of the aisle in Michigan’s Congressional delegation, including Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), who had each sent letters to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the department to take action.
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