Congressman Harris Statement on Post Pandemic Food for Schools Program

Washington DC -- Congressman Harris Released the Following Statement on the Food for Schools Program in Maryland.

“As a pandemic-era program, the Local Food for Schools Program was originally authorized as a “one-time” program in the COVID-era American Rescue Plan - but the Biden administration then unilaterally decided to just keep funding despite a $2 trillion deficit. Now that COVID is over, we should turn to other existing USDA programs whose funds can be used to buy local fruits and vegetables for schools - if the local school system chooses to use those funds in that way. Nothing prevents a state or local school from using their money from these other USDA programs to buy foods from local farmers if they choose to do so, but we have to move past COVID-era spending.”