CORONAVIRUS PROMPTS RUSH TO EXPAND SAFETY NET

(March 11th, 2020)

CORONAVIRUS PROMPTS RUSH TO EXPAND SAFETY NET: Lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a slew of mostly bipartisan bills intended to expand nutrition benefits to cushion the impact of coronavirus, as it threatens consistent paychecks and access to meals for students and families. The House today is expected to vote on a sweeping stimulus package, H.R. 6201 (116), including pieces of those measures, though it's unclear if the legislation released late Wednesday night will draw support from Republicans or the White House.
School lunches: One proposal from Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) would waive certain requirements in school nutrition programs to allow school officials to more easily distribute food, as well as grant flexibility on meal components if supply is limited. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) introduced a similar bill. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 1,500 schools were closed or about to shut their doors, affecting more than one million children.