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Bill Would Expand Program |
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Thursday, 25 June 2009 |
By MIKE BURKHOLDER
Managing Editor
ST. MARYS — A U.S. Senator says his plan to streamline free and reduced-priced meals for school children could open up the program to an additional 150,000 Ohioans.
Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, announced Wednesday a proposal to expand the program that serves free and reduced-priced meals to students nationwide during a conference call with regional media. The plan, Brown said, could help 3.5 million children across the nation.
“The application process is antiquated and not reflective of today’s school districts,” Brown said. “Legislation I am introducing today (Wednesday) would help more than 150,000 children. It would modernize the application system and make sure it functions the way it should.”
Brown said 500,000 children annually benefit from the program in Ohio. However 700,000 children are eligible.
“We want to make it easier for children to enroll in programs,” Brown said. “Fewer than 10 percent of the children who receive nutrition assistance during the school year take advantage during the summer.”
To expand the program, Brown said any child enrolled in Medicaid and state children’s health insurance program (SCHIP) would automatically be placed into the program. The bill has an estimated cost of $1.5 to $2 billion during a five-year period.
“Some of that would be for computers,” Brown said noting the bill would overhaul the registration process as well.
Brown said lone bills, like this one, rarely get passed by Congress. The senator said he plans to get the bill included in the Child Nutrition Bill, which is slated to be discussed in the coming weeks. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 July 2009 )
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