Julia Anderson
Putting food on your family’s table can be challenging if you come from a low-income household. And even if you did everything you could to accomplish that goal, it may not have been enough once the coronavirus made its appearance.
Could you apply for SNAP benefits and get food stamps? Sure. Could you line up at a food distribution site to get some supplies to fill your kitchen? Yes. Could you have used some of your coronavirus stimulus checks to buy food? Of course. But all of that still may not be enough, which is why the President wants his American Families Plan to pass.
2023
Tax Forgiveness
We know how challenging it can be to pay off your tax debt.
The IRS just announced the 2023 Fresh Start Program, to qualify more people for tax relief!
You don’t have to read the plan to know what it focuses on, as its name says it all. One of the plans’ most essential focuses is on child nutrition. Here are some reasons why.
Child Food Insecurity in the U.S.
Keeping a child fed is essential for their physical and mental growth. Unfortunately, this may not be easy to do in a low-income household.
When a child can’t get the nutrients they need from food, their learning can be negatively impacted, as can their growth. They can fall behind other kids whose nutrition is not lacking. And once grown, these food-deprived children who are now adults may find themselves struggling to break the vicious cycle of poverty that makes it impossible to advance.
Research shows that poor nutrition can lead to an increased risk for:
- Blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Poor overall health
How can a child’s nutrition improve if their family lacks the funds to feed them properly? Studies show that school meals are the key. In fact, many studies have found that children get their most nutritious and fulfilling meals at school. Knowing this, President Biden has pledged to fund child nutrition with a $45 billion investment. Let’s discuss how some of those funds will be divided and what it can mean for you:
School Meals Under the American Families Plan
1. Permanent Summer Pandemic-EBT: $25 billion
A child’s nutritional needs don’t stop during the summer months. But parents may find it hard to keep up with those needs when kids are out of school, and their free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunches disappear.
Under the American Families Plan, Summer Pandemic-EBT would become permanent thanks to a $25 billion investment. This would allow low-income households to purchase food for their kids during the summer months when schools are out of session.
2. Menus Featuring Improved Nutrition: $1 Billion
Schools could offer more nutritious meals with more funding. That’s why Biden wants to invest $1 billion to reimburse schools that exceed nutritional standards with their menus. In short, your kids could start receiving meals packed with healthy foods to improve their performance and growth.
3. Expanding School Meal Availability: $17 Billion
Schools will find it easier to qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision, which would allow them to feed all of their students free meals. With a $17 billion investment, Biden wants to make school meals more accessible by lowering eligibility requirements. If passed, this would help 9.3 million more children receive free school meals.
Eric Tomasso
