H.R.3378: Stop Child Summer Hunger Act of 2019
Overview
The Stop Child Summer Hunger Act would provide children from low-income families a Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to purchase food. The bill would allow each EBT card to have up to $150 per summer, which can be used in any store that has been approved to take Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The cards would be eligible for children who participate in free and reduced-price school meals during the academic year.
S. 1941 is the Senate companion bill.
Talking Points
- Food insecurity is most acute for children during the summer months when they do not have access to school meals.
- An EBT pilot program conducted by the USDA found that Summer meal cards helped reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition among participating children, while also reducing administrative costs.
- The National Assembly strongly supports this bill because ensuring that children have access is to food all year round is essential to making sure they can thrive, physically, conginitvly, and academically.