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Ask Your MOC to Co-Sponsor the Paperless Enrollment for School Meals Act

Ask your Member of Congress to co-sponsor the “Paperless Enrollment for School Meals Act of 2009,” S.1226/H.R. 2803, which was introduced by Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and in the House by Reps. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), and Robert Brady (D-PA).

This bill is important because it will make it possible for more low-income children to participate in school meals by allowing schools in high-poverty areas to provide universal (free to all) meal programs.

S. 1226/H.R.2803 creates alternatives to the standard paper application process and meal claiming procedures for schools and districts serving concentrations of low-income children. Specifically, the bills would allow schools or districts that agree to serve breakfast and lunch free to all students for 5 years to be reimbursed based on socioeconomic data rather than individual applications. The school or district gets administrative relief in exchange for covering any costs that exceed federal reimbursements.

Use the form below to e-mail your Members of Congress.

February 09, 2010

Subject:
Co-sponsor the Paperless Enrollment for School Meals Act (S. 1226/H.R. 2803)

Dear Member of Congress:

I am writing to request that you co-sponsor the “Paperless Enrollment for School Meals Act of 2009,” S.1226/H.R. 2803, introduced by Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA),Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and in the House by Reps. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), and Robert Brady (D-PA).  This bill is important because it will make it possible for more low-income children to participate in school meals by allowing schools in high-poverty areas to provide universal (free to all) meal programs.

S. 1226/H.R.2803 creates alternatives to the standard paper application process and meal claiming procedures for schools and districts serving concentrations of low-income children.  Specifically, the bills would allow schools or districts that agree to serve breakfast and lunch free to all students for 5 years to be reimbursed based on socioeconomic data rather than individual applications.  The school or district gets administrative relief in exchange for covering any costs that exceed federal reimbursements.  

While the paper application process will continue to work well in some places, there is no policy or budget reason to adhere rigidly to a cumbersome paper application process, especially in schools where the vast majority of students qualify for free or reduced price meals.  The system can and should be modernized so that we move away from relying on manual eligibility determinations and file cabinets full of paper applications. 

Please co-sponsor the Paperless Enrollment for School Meals Act (S. 1226/H.R. 2803) so that more low-income children will be able to access healthy school meals.

Sincerely,

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