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Budget deal gives USDA authority to extend child nutrition waivers through 2020-2021 school year

Legislation signed by President Trump after passing both houses of Congress authorizes USDA to extend National School Lunch Program waivers addressing coronavirus through Sept. 30, 2021.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

October 1, 2020

1 Min Read
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President Trump signed a short-term funding bill providing appropriations to fund the government through Dec. 11, 2020Joshua Roberts / Stringer / Getty Images News

President Trump has signed into law a short-term funding bill that passed by the House of Representatives and then the Senate providing appropriations to fund the government through Dec. 11, 2020. The bill also includes a provision to extend the U.S. Department of Agriculture's authority first granted this past March to issue and extend nationwide child nutrition waivers until September 30, 2021. 

At the end of August, USDA had extended the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) waivers through Dec. 31, 2020, which is “for as long as we can, legally and financially,” said USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue at the time. The waivers allow SFSP and SSO meals to be served in all areas and at no cost, permit meals to be served outside of typically required group settings and meal times, and it waives meal pattern requirements if necessary to allow parents or guardians to pick up meals.

The bill just passed provides USDA with the authority to extend child nutrition waivers.

 

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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