First Focus Campaign for Children sent the following letter to the lead sponsors of The Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act (H.R. 7887) in support of the legislation, which aims to ensure that every student is eligible for free school meals, off-site meals, and after-school meals and snacks during the upcoming school year.

Excerpt from the letter:

The Coronavirus pandemic has underscored the importance of free and reduced price school meals. Childhood hunger has long been a problem in this country, with nearly 11.2 million children living in a food insecure household in 2018. The dual economic and public health crises caused by the pandemic have only exacerbated the problem, leaving nearly 14 million children without enough to eat as of July 9. School meals have been especially helpful in feeding children during this difficult time. In April alone, school nutrition programs served nearly 134 million meals.

Read the full letter.