U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichWASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) sent a letter Friday with Senate Democrats to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, requesting that the USDA proactively work with all state agencies to ensure the availability of waivers that provide flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs in the event of school closures.
Sen. Heinrich continues to be engaged with New Mexico state agencies, including the New Mexico School Nutrition Association, to ensure that necessary lines of communication and funding are available as federal, state, and local officials continue to address and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“In response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, public school systems across the country are planning for the possibility that they will need to close schools,” the senators wrote. “In several school districts, schools have already closed. These ongoing and potential closures could mean that students who rely on school meals go hungry unless plans are in place to avoid interruptions to meal services.
“No child should go hungry because their school has closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We are encouraged by the steps USDA is already taking, and we ask that you provide a written response by March 17, 2020, to update us on additional steps USDA is taking to help ensure uninterrupted meal services for students.”
Read the full letter by clicking HERE.
