WASHINGTON -- Legislation reauthorizing the nation's child-nutrition programs now includes language from U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., giving greater flexibility to the organizers of summer meals programs.
The Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday passed the Improving Child Nutrition Integrity and Access Act of 2016 which included the language from Boozman's Hunger Free Summer for Kids Act
The measure now goes to the full Senate.
Lucy Melcher, associate director of advocacy for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, said the changes will enable large numbers of poor children to get free meals who otherwise wouldn't be reached.
The Washington nonprofit group, which works to end childhood hunger, had been a strong advocate for Boozman's bipartisan legislation.
"This bill today was a very significant step forward in our work to end childhood hunger in America, specifically the summer hunger crisis that our country is facing," she said.
In Arkansas, 230,000 children receive free or reduced-price meals; fewer than one-fourth of them get those meals in the summertime, Melcher said. "So the legislation that passed today, that was championed by Sen. Boozman, will really make it easier for community organizations to operate the program so that they're able to reach kids in need."
Under current federal rules, children generally must travel to central locations, pick up their meals and eat them there before leaving.
Schools qualify as feeding centers, so it's easy to provide free breakfasts and lunches when classes are in session. But the rest of the time, many children can't get the meals because they have no transportation.
The problem is especially great in rural, sparsely populated areas.
Boozman's legislation would allow greater flexibility.
A feeding program, for example, could offer "takeout" meals or deliver them to the children's homes.
The bill also allowed states to issue electronic benefit transfer cards to provide poor families with $30 per child per month during the summer.
Boozman, who served on the Rogers School Board before heading to Washington, is the co-chairman of the Senate Hunger Caucus.
Nancy Conley, communications director for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, said Boozman's changes were important.
"For Arkansas, it's really going to be huge," she said. With the easing of restrictions "we'll be able to use more flexibility to allow kids to access the food they need. ... This is really great, and we're so happy that Sen. Boozman has shown such leadership on this. We're just thrilled."
The Delta Grassroots Caucus, an anti-poverty group that supports the legislation, also praised Boozman for his leadership on the issue.
"It's good news, and it's good to see Congress working in a nonpartisan way for a change," said Lee Powell, the group's executive director.
Boozman said he's glad to see the legislation advancing.
"We had very good bipartisan support coming out of committee, which is always a good sign," he said. "We've got Democrats and Republicans working together. ... I think we've got a really good chance of getting it passed."
Boozman credited groups, including the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and the Arkansas Foodbank, for helping come up with the proposal, saying "the solution to the problem is coming from the people that are directly involved."
The current system, in place for decades, needed to be updated, he said.
"What we're trying to do is provide a lot more flexibility, making it such that the program works in urban areas, suburban areas and then the rural areas," he said. "Instead of the one-size-fits-all ... it gives them the ability to come up with programs that work in their particular community setting."
A Section on 01/21/2016