WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH11) today introduced the School Nutrition Flexibility Act, a bipartisan bill that gives local school administrators more flexibility to better support children and provide nutritious school meals. She introduced the bill with Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH15).

“Meals served in school are an essential building block to our children’s overall health and academic success,” said Congresswoman Fudge. “Without these meals, millions of students would go hungry. We have listened to school officials and nutrition experts on how current regulations impact their ability to provide quality nutrition and have introduced legislation to address those concerns. I am pleased to work with Congressman Stivers in introducing the School Nutrition Flexibility Act.  It gives our schools greater flexibility while preserving the goal of improved nutrition standards.”

“We cannot expect to properly educate our children if they are hungry at school,” Stivers said. “Our children are our future. As the father of two young children, I believe we must allow those who serve our schools meals the flexibility they need to continue their dedicated work. That is why the School Nutrition Flexibility Act is so important, because it strikes the perfect balance between allowing school meal providers more options, while also preserving our overall goal for better nutrition for our children.”

Endorsed by the School Nutrition Association, the School Nutrition Flexibility Act works to assist the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its efforts to develop school nutritional standards by permanently removing a harmful protein and grain limit that the USDA has temporarily waived for two years.

The School Nutrition Flexibility Act also allows local school food authorities and local school boards to set the prices of school meals where the local programs are being well-managed and operating in the black.

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