News

WASHINGTON, November 7, 2020 – On behalf of the Food Research & Action Center, I congratulate Joe Biden on being elected America’s 46th president.

President-Elect Biden and the new administration will confront many challenges as the long-term public health and economic fallout of COVID-19 continues to unfold. Even prior to the pandemic, millions of people in every corner of the country struggled to put food on the table. And COVID-19 has only deepened our nation’s hunger crisis.

WASHINGTON, October 20, 2020 — As states move into phases of reopening and recovery, reaching more children with afterschool suppers and snacks will be critical to addressing exacerbated childhood hunger caused by COVID-19. According to the Afterschool Suppers: A Snapshot of Participation report released today by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), more than 1.4 million low-income children benefited from Afterschool Nutrition Programs on an average day in October 2019, with participation in afterschool suppers increasing by more than 86,900 from the prior year.

WASHINGTON, October 9, 2020 — The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its decision to extend the waivers which allow for the continued operation of the Summer Nutrition Programs, along with other critical child nutrition waivers, through June 30, 2021. This extension will ensure schools and private nonprofit organizations have the consistency and time needed in order to effectively plan and implement meal service for millions of children across the country who rely on free and reduced-price school meals.

WASHINGTON, October 2, 2020 — Now that the president has signed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that includes $8 billion for nutrition assistance, the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use its authority from the CR to take immediate action to extend nationwide child nutrition waivers beyond the current December 31 deadline to Fiscal Year 2021, to issue guidance to states on Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program (P-EBT), grant states additional flexibilities for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations, and extend WIC waivers.

WASHINGTON, September 29, 2020 — The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) strongly endorses the updated HEROES Act released by House Democrats last night. The comprehensive COVID-19 relief bill includes much-needed benefit boosts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that are critical to reducing the number of hungry households and to stimulating the economy. The bill also makes investments in other vital programs that assist people in meeting their basic needs during COVID-19.