Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise today for just a moment to discuss the Keep Kids Fed Act, which will help schools and summer providers operate as they return to normal, while facing supply chain problems and fighting food costs.

This bill is a result of a bicameral, bipartisan agreement that assists schools and students as they resume regular operations of the meal programs.

The waivers to provide higher reimbursement rates and universal free meals under these programs during COVID are no longer necessary.

However, schools still face unusual times with a 35 to 40 percent increase in food prices due to inflation and supply chain difficulties. This bill provides targeted and temporary relief for the 2022-2023 school year to help schools with higher food costs and is fully offset.

We all want to ensure that children in this country receive healthful and affordable meals to help them focus on their education.

This bill will help schools provide those meals as they return to normal, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. And, again, thank you so much, Senator Stabenow, to you and your staff, and to my staff and everyone that has worked so hard to come to an agreement.

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