On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden recommended that Congress spend $45 billion to provide free meals for millions of low-income children, a step that would broaden anti-poverty steps taken after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden wants legislators to finance a bridge program that provides low-income households with cash to pay for food in the months when school is out for summer and lunches are not served. He also asks for more money for free meals in high-poverty areas during the school year.
High Tax On Rich
The nutrition programme is one part of Biden’s $1.8 trillion American Family Plan, which will increase taxes on rich people to pay for lower-income family programmes.
“The pandemic highlighted the need for food insecurity,” said Kelliann Blazek, a White House assistant whose portfolio includes agriculture and rural policy. “Some of these investments really draw lessons from the pandemic.”
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 5.3 million children lived in households that we’re unable to provide food for the entire family during the year.
The administration also asks Congress to reward schools that increase healthy food options with bonus payments and to allow people convicted of drug-related offences to continue to receive food stamp benefits.
To authorise funding, a closely divided Congress would need to approve the plan.
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