SNA Policy News: Updates from Washington D.C.

USDA Withdraws Proposed Rule on Categorical Eligibility in SNAP
School Nutrition Association
On June 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) withdrew a Proposed Rule on Categorical Eligibility in SNAP. This Proposed Rule, originally published on July 24, 2019, limited states' ability to participate in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) to determine eligibility for SNAP. SNA previously submitted comments regarding this Proposed Rule, specifically outlining concerns that it would result in many children losing access to free school meals and some schools losing access to recently implemented programs under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). SNA was also concerned that school nutrition professionals would be burdened with substantially increased workloads and costs from outreach, paperwork, and processing of applications for impacted families.
SNA CNR Task Force Issues Recommendations
School Nutrition Association
SNA’s Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR) Task Force has finalized recommendations for the Association to share with Congress as they work to reauthorize the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). In March, SNA convened a diverse group of school nutrition operators, State agency and industry members to examine every aspect of HHFKA, gather input, discuss concerns and identify potential solutions to ensure the continued success of school meal programs. The final Board-approved recommendations cover a broad range of topics, ranging from expanding access to school meals through universal meals and increasing reimbursement rates, to addressing meal pattern challenges and reducing the complexity of reporting requirements.
SNA Publishes an Analysis of USDA's Data on the Impact of the First Full Year of the Pandemic
School Nutrition Association
On June 1, SNA published an examination of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) latest data comparing the number of meals served and reimbursements in the year before the pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) to the first full year of the pandemic (March 2020 – February 2021). SNA's analysis of the data shows school meal programs served nearly 30% fewer meals to students and incurred significant losses in federal revenue in the first twelve months of the pandemic. Read SNA's full web story for more information.
President Biden’s FY2022 Budget
School Nutrition Association
On May 28, President Biden released his FY2022 budget request. The budget includes $27.9 billion for USDA, a nearly 17% increase from FY2021. The fact sheet states the budget will “provide critical nutrition assistance to families who need it most and expand access to healthy meals to the Nation’s students.”
Senator Ernst Sends Letter to Secretary Vilsack Regarding Meat Alternatives in Schools
School Nutrition Association
On May 19, Senator Joni Ernst (IA-R) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack concerning the service of meat alternatives as part of school nutrition programs. In this letter, Senator Ernst outlined the recent expansion of meat alternatives, specifically the recent certification of Impossible Foods' meat alternative products as part of the Child Nutrition Labeling Program. In addition, she listed the health benefits of natural meats and proteins and how these recent actions are "disincentivizing the consumption of meat, at the expense of our nation's animal agriculture workers, rural communities, and livestock producers." Read Senator Ernst's full press release.