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Education Committee Approves Bill to Increase School
Reimbursement
for Lunch & Breakfast Programs
HARRISBURG -- The
Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator James J. Rhoades (R-29), approved
legislation today that would increase the amount Pennsylvania’s schools are
reimbursed for the state’s school lunch and school breakfast programs.
Currently, schools receive
10 cents per breakfast or lunch served to students enrolled in the programs.
Senate Bill 1223 would increase the amount to 11 cents per breakfast and 12
cents per lunch, Rhoades said.
“This program is absolutely
essential to the lives of many of Pennsylvania’s students,” Rhoades noted.
“Without the breakfast and lunch programs, our neediest boys and girls may not
get the nutrition they need. And it goes without saying that if you’re going to
school hungry, you’re probably not learning. We need to do everything we can to
help these kids and help the schools that provide these programs.”
Jay Himes, executive
director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, praised
the effort to increase the reimbursement through Senate Bill 1223. He cited
escalating food costs, changing federal nutrition standards and the need to stem
childhood obesity by changing school menus as reasons why the increase is
needed.
“Your efforts to address
these issues by proposing a modest three-cent increase in funding for
participants in the National School Lunch Program are welcome and appreciated,”
said Himes.
In 2004-05, Pennsylvania
schools will receive $27.24 million in state funds and $298.2 million in federal
funds for the lunch and breakfast programs. During the 2003-04 school year,
over 39 million breakfasts and 181 million lunches were served in Pennsylvania’s
schools under the program, Rhoades said.
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