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.
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.
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