HYDE-SMITH SAYS MISS. STUDENTS WILL BENEFIT FROM USDA SCHOOL MEALS WAIVER
Hyde-Smith Advocated for Extension to Ensure Meal Deliveries throughout Fall Semester
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today thanked Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for approving a school nutrition waiver that will provide schools in Mississippi with greater flexibility to provide meals and other child nutrition benefits as schools open around the country.
Perdue on Monday approved extensions for the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Options through Dec. 31, 2020.
“This waiver is very good news for Mississippi schools and other organizations that have worked to deliver federal nutrition benefits to school children throughout the pandemic. I am grateful to Secretary Perdue for approving these waiver extensions so children will continue to receive meals during the fall semester,” Hyde-Smith said.
Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, signed a letter earlier this month that encouraged Perdue to exercise his waiver authority to assist school food authorities and non-school sponsoring organizations to provide meals to students whether their schools implement in-person, virtual, or hybrid classroom sessions.
Using authorities Congress provided in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Perdue extended waivers to allow the continuation of the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Options, which will:
- Allow the Summer Food Service Program and Seamless Summer Options meals service in all areas and at no cost;
- Permit meals to be served outside of the typically-required group settings and meal times;
- Waive meal pattern requirements as necessary; and
- Allow parents and guardians to pick-up meals for their children.
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