Statement from No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella on Child Hunger and the Build Back Better Negotiations
“As Washington continues to negotiate the Build Back Better Act, we are alarmed at the possibility that millions of children—including 2.5 million right here in New York State—will face a higher risk of hunger next summer if the proposed expansion of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Program is stripped out.
“Summer is the hungriest time of year for kids. Summer EBT solves for this by giving parents additional dollars to buy food and compensate for the loss of free meals kids would normally receive at school. After the U.S. Department of Agriculture implemented the Summer EBT pilots in a handful of states, it reduced food insecurity among children by a third and helped more kids get the nutrition they need.
“Congress has the chance to deliver this essential program to New York and all 50 states by keeping it in Build Back Better. We urge our senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, to fight for New York’s children by fighting for the expansion of Summer EBT. Every missed meal matters—and hungry children can’t wait.”
No Kid Hungry New York Director Rachel Sabella is available for interview about the Summer EBT program and Build Back Better negotiations. Read No Kid Hungry’s “3 reasons why Congress Should Pass the Build Back Better Plan” explainer: https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/three-reasons-why-congress-must-pass-build-back-better-act.
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