Federal “Keep Kids Fed Act” signed into law

by Dan Rossmiller | Jun 30, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, National Issue

On June 25, President Biden signed the bipartisan Keep Kids Fed Act into law, thereby extending several pandemic-era school nutrition waivers. Those waivers, first issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as the pandemic disrupted school operations in 2020, had been set to expire on June 30.

Those 2020 waivers provided school food programs with more flexible nutrition requirements that helped them combat supply shortages, offer options such as “grab-and-go” meals, and provided school meal programs with higher than normal reimbursement rates for meals. The waivers also allowed school food authorities to provide free school meals to all students regardless of family income for the first time in U.S. history. (more…)

New bipartisan school and gun safety law also includes additional resources for schools, children and families

by Dan Rossmiller | Jun 27, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, National Issue

President signs bipartisan school and gun safety package

by Chris Kulow | Jun 27, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, National Issue

From ABC News: “President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law the gun safety package passed by Congress this week.

“The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act broke a nearly 30-year stalemate on Capitol Hill, becoming the first major piece of federal gun reform to clear both chambers since the Brady bill.

“A bipartisan group of senators began crafting the legislation in the aftermath of a tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 young children and two teachers dead. (more…)

U.S. Senate moves closer to passage of bipartisan school and gun safety package

by Dan Rossmiller | Jun 22, 2022 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog, National Issue

A bipartisan package of measures aimed at improving school safety (see previous post) has cleared its first hurdle toward passage in the U.S. Senate. The 64-to-34 vote came just hours after Republicans and Democrats released the text of the legislation.  Proponents hope to pass the bill through the U.S. Senate by Saturday.

The 80-page bill, called the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, would provide millions of dollars for expanding mental health resources in communities and schools in addition to funds devoted to boosting school safety. 

(more…)