Blog

Right now, Congress is focused on passing a bipartisan infrastructure package. Soon they will turn their attention to many other investments -- and those investments include opportunities to disrupt poverty.

Earlier this month lawmakers announced a $3.5 trillion “framework” for what they hope to fund through a budget reconciliation process. Although negotiators are still finalizing the details, the package is expected to include big spending on tax credits and enhancements to federal safety net programs.

To officially kick start the reconciliation process, Congress must first pass a budget resolution with reconciliation instructions. The budget resolution would set forth general spending targets and the reconciliation instructions would direct congressional committees to propose legislation and spending within those targets. A budget resolution may be voted on within the Senate by the second week of August and in the House when members return in September after a month-long recess.

Over the next several weeks — as budget resolutions and legislation are being written — members of congress need to hear from you that funding for nutrition must be included in the budget reconciliation. This is a tremendous opportunity to advance the transformative changes we all care about.

Now is a great time to request meetings with your members of congress and to ask them to:

• Support the child nutrition provisions included in the American Families Plan, but go further. Extend free school meals to ALL children and create an out-of-school time EBT program that support's access to meals during extended school breaks ;
• Extend the 15% CalFresh benefit boost and WIC Cash Value Benefit increase which are both set to expire at the end of September.