Platts, Casey, Specter Work to Help Kids Eat Healthy Throughout the Summer

Press Release

Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) joined Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) today in introducing legislation that would provide summer meals to children of low-income families in Pennsylvania and across the country. The Summer Food Service Rural Expansion Act would extend the Summer Food Service Program which provides nourishing meals throughout the summer to children from low-income, rural families when school is out of session.

"Schools work very hard throughout the year to give our children the nutrition they need," Senator Casey said. "But when school is out, some kids still need help to have a healthy meal. This program has made great progress in doing just that. It is imperative we make it permanent and expand it nationally."

"This legislation will help serve countless low-income, rural children," Specter said. "Health is one of our greatest capital assets, and I am pleased to join with Senator Casey and Congressman Platts to fill the nutritional gap faced by families during the summer months."

"Only one in seven low-income children in Pennsylvania's rural areas have access to the nutritional help that they need during the summer months," said Congressman Platts. "This pilot program is helping reverse this trend, but we can, and we must, do better. This legislation builds upon the success we have achieved in Pennsylvania, while providing similar opportunities for needy children across the country."

The Summer Food Service Rural Expansion Act would make the Rural Summer Food Service Pilot Program permanent and expand it to the rural areas of every state.

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