CINXE.COM
Finally, This Election Season, Child Hunger is on the Table – The 74
<!doctype html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <link rel="profile" href="https://gmpg.org/xfn/11"> <!--Typekit Fonts--> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://use.typekit.net/iug5cqk.css"> <!--Google SEO Verification--> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="Qa5yYDudozP2vq9luqmd1FSw5YjOPyBM9Inf8oE9HeI" /> <!--Facebook Domain Verification--> <meta name="facebook-domain-verification" content="qiz0ob0bidtso985bh28e9zjtqk8xq" /> <!--Newsletter Submission Response--> <!--Single Page Variables--> <!-- Sponsored Ad--> <title>Finally, This Election Season, Child Hunger is on the Table – The 74</title> <!-- PopupPress Plugin v.3.1.6 - 6.1.1 --> <meta name='robots' content='max-image-preview:large' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//www.youtube.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//a.omappapi.com' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="The 74 » Feed" href="https://www.the74million.org/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="The 74 » Comments Feed" href="https://www.the74million.org/comments/feed/" /> <script> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/14.0.0\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.1.1"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(e,a,t){var n,r,o,i=a.createElement("canvas"),p=i.getContext&&i.getContext("2d");function s(e,t){var a=String.fromCharCode,e=(p.clearRect(0,0,i.width,i.height),p.fillText(a.apply(this,e),0,0),i.toDataURL());return p.clearRect(0,0,i.width,i.height),p.fillText(a.apply(this,t),0,0),e===i.toDataURL()}function c(e){var t=a.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=t.type="text/javascript",a.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(t)}for(o=Array("flag","emoji"),t.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},r=0;r<o.length;r++)t.supports[o[r]]=function(e){if(p&&p.fillText)switch(p.textBaseline="top",p.font="600 32px Arial",e){case"flag":return s([127987,65039,8205,9895,65039],[127987,65039,8203,9895,65039])?!1:!s([55356,56826,55356,56819],[55356,56826,8203,55356,56819])&&!s([55356,57332,56128,56423,56128,56418,56128,56421,56128,56430,56128,56423,56128,56447],[55356,57332,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56418,8203,56128,56421,8203,56128,56430,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56447]);case"emoji":return!s([129777,127995,8205,129778,127999],[129777,127995,8203,129778,127999])}return!1}(o[r]),t.supports.everything=t.supports.everything&&t.supports[o[r]],"flag"!==o[r]&&(t.supports.everythingExceptFlag=t.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&t.supports[o[r]]);t.supports.everythingExceptFlag=t.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!t.supports.flag,t.DOMReady=!1,t.readyCallback=function(){t.DOMReady=!0},t.supports.everything||(n=function(){t.readyCallback()},a.addEventListener?(a.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",n,!1),e.addEventListener("load",n,!1)):(e.attachEvent("onload",n),a.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===a.readyState&&t.readyCallback()})),(e=t.source||{}).concatemoji?c(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(c(e.twemoji),c(e.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <style> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.the74million.org/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.1.1' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='classic-theme-styles-css' href='https://www.the74million.org/wp-includes/css/classic-themes.min.css?ver=1' media='all' /> <style id='global-styles-inline-css'> body{--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-purple-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red: url('#wp-duotone-blue-red');--wp--preset--duotone--midnight: url('#wp-duotone-midnight');--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green: url('#wp-duotone-purple-green');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange: url('#wp-duotone-blue-orange');--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} .wp-block-navigation a:where(:not(.wp-element-button)){color: inherit;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;} .wp-block-pullquote{font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='pps_style-css' href='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/plugins/popup-press/css/pps_style.css?ver=3.1.6' media='screen' /> <style id='pps_style-inline-css'> .pps-popup { } .pps-popup .pps-wrap { } .pps-popup .pps-wrap .pps-close { } .pps-popup .pps-wrap .pps-content { } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='simplebar-styles-css' href='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/css/simplebar.css?ver=6.1.1' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='swiper-style-css' href='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/css/swiper-bundle.css?ver=1' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='t74v2-style-css' href='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/style.css?ver=1.07298898' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='admin-styles-css' href='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/css/admin.css?ver=6.1.1' media='all' /> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/js/swiper.js?ver=1.0.01187318093' id='swiper-js-js'></script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.6.1' id='jquery-core-js'></script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.3.2' id='jquery-migrate-js'></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" type="application/json" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-json/wp/v2/article/734160" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.the74million.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <link rel="wlwmanifest" type="application/wlwmanifest+xml" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-includes/wlwmanifest.xml" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.1.1" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.the74million.org/?p=734160' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the74million.org%2Farticle%2Ffinally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the74million.org%2Farticle%2Ffinally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table%2F&format=xml" /> <meta name="generator" content="Site Kit by Google 1.111.0" /><!-- OPEN GRAPH TAGS --><meta property="og:title" content="Finally, This Election Season, Child Hunger is on the Table" /><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/" /><meta property="article:author" content="Billy Shore" /><meta property="og:description" content="Shore: With food prices unusually high, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must come together and support an anti-hunger agenda."><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"><meta property="og:image" content="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2-825x495.jpg?cb=734160" /><meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg"><meta property="og:image:width" content="825"><meta property="og:image:height" content="495"><!-- STRUCTURED DATA --> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "headline": "Finally, This Election Season, Child Hunger is on the Table", "image": [ "https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2-825x495.jpg" ], "datePublished": "2024-10-20T08:01:00-04:00", "author": [{ "@type": "Person", "name": "Billy Shore", "url": "https://www.the74million.org/contributor/billy-shore/" }] } </script> <meta name="keywords" content="Opinion,Child Tax Credit,commentary,Donald Trump,EDlection 2024,hunger,kamala harris,opinion,Tim Walz"><meta name="description" content="Shore: With food prices unusually high, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must come together and support an anti-hunger agenda."><meta name="author" content="Billy Shore"><!-- GOOGLE ANALYTICS: --> <script>(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-64416702-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script><script async src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-YQBR2DBZ9Z'></script><script>window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}gtag('js', new Date());gtag('config', 'G-YQBR2DBZ9Z');</script> <!-- TWITTER: Twitter universal website tag code --> <script> !function(e,t,n,s,u,a){e.twq||(s=e.twq=function(){s.exe?s.exe.apply(s,arguments):s.queue.push(arguments); },s.version='1.1',s.queue=[],u=t.createElement(n),u.async=!0,u.src='//static.ads-twitter.com/uwt.js', a=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0],a.parentNode.insertBefore(u,a))}(window,document,'script'); // Insert Twitter Pixel ID and Standard Event data below twq('init','nxrqs'); twq('track','PageView'); </script> <!-- FACEBOOK: Facebook Pixel Code --> <script> !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '626037510879173'); // 626037510879173 fbq('track', 'PageView'); </script> <noscript> <img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=626037510879173&ev=PageView&noscript=1"/> </noscript> <!-- CHARTBEAT: --> <script type='text/javascript'> (function() { /** CONFIGURATION START **/ var _sf_async_config = window._sf_async_config = (window._sf_async_config || {}); _sf_async_config.uid = 66128; _sf_async_config.domain = 'the74million.org'; _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; _sf_async_config.useCanonicalDomain = true; _sf_async_config.sections = 'Opinion'; //SET PAGE SECTION(S) _sf_async_config.authors = 'Billy Shore'; //SET PAGE AUTHOR(S) /** CONFIGURATION END **/ function loadChartbeat() { var e = document.createElement('script'); var n = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; e.type = 'text/javascript'; e.async = true; e.src = '//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat.js'; n.parentNode.insertBefore(e, n); } loadChartbeat(); })(); </script> <script async src="//static.chartbeat.com/js/chartbeat_mab.js"></script> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-74_favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-74_favicon-192x192.png" sizes="192x192" /> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-74_favicon-180x180.png" /> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/cropped-74_favicon-270x270.png" /> <style type="text/css"> #popuppress-727633 { width: 80%; height: auto; -webkit-border-radius: 7px; -moz-border-radius: 7px; border-radius: 7px; border: solid 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.4); } #popuppress-727633 .pps-wrap { padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: #FFFFFF; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px){ #popuppress-727633 .pps-wrap { padding: 0.6em; } } #popuppress-727633 .pps-header { background-color: #FFFFFF; -moz-border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-header h3 { margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 0px; border-color: #EEEEEE; line-height: 1.4; font-size: 20px; color: #444444; text-align: left } #popuppress-727633 .pps-content { padding: 0px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-iframe iframe { height: 460px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-pdf iframe { height: 460px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-embed{ min-height: 460px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-embed iframe { width: 100%; height: 460px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-control-nav { bottom: -30px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-content, #popuppress-727633 .pps-content p, #popuppress-727633 .pps-content ul, #popuppress-727633 .pps-content ol, #popuppress-727633 .pps-content em, #popuppress-727633 .pps-content span, #popuppress-727633 .pps-content a { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-content h1 { font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5em 0; padding: 0px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-content h2 { font-size: 27.2px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.4em 0; padding: 0px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-content h3 { font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.3em 0; padding: 0px; } /* Customize the button of the popup */ a.pps-btn.pps-button-popup { color: #FFF; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6; font-weight: bold; padding:5px 14px 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #348ECC; border-bottom: 2px solid #1B80C5; border-radius: 3px; } a.pps-btn.pps-button-popup:hover { background-color: #3C9CDD; border-color: #1B80C5; } /* Add additional styles */ #popuppress-727633.pps-popup.pps-has-border:before { width: 0px; height: 0px; visibility: hidden; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-close { position: absolute; top: -14px; right: -14px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-close a.pps-close-link { font-size: 18px; width: 18px; height: 18px; line-height: 1; background-color: #FFFFFF; -webkit-border-radius: 18px; -moz-border-radius: 18px; border-radius: 18px; } #popuppress-727633 .pps-close a.pps-close-link i.pps-icon:before{ line-height: 1; color: #999999 } #popuppress-727633 .pps-close a.pps-close-link:hover i.pps-icon:before{ color: #222222 } #popuppress-725327 { width: 640px; height: auto; -webkit-border-radius: 7px; -moz-border-radius: 7px; border-radius: 7px; border: solid 8px rgba(0,0,0,0.4); } #popuppress-725327 .pps-wrap { padding: 15px 20px 15px 20px; background-color: #FFFFFF; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px){ #popuppress-725327 .pps-wrap { padding: 0.6em; } } #popuppress-725327 .pps-header { background-color: #FFFFFF; -moz-border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-header h3 { margin-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 0px; border-color: #EEEEEE; line-height: 1.4; font-size: 20px; color: #444444; text-align: left } #popuppress-725327 .pps-content { padding: 0px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-iframe iframe { height: 460px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-pdf iframe { height: 460px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-embed{ min-height: 460px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-embed iframe { width: 100%; height: 460px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-control-nav { bottom: -38px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-content, #popuppress-725327 .pps-content p, #popuppress-725327 .pps-content ul, #popuppress-725327 .pps-content ol, #popuppress-725327 .pps-content em, #popuppress-725327 .pps-content span, #popuppress-725327 .pps-content a { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-content h1 { font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5em 0; padding: 0px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-content h2 { font-size: 27.2px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.4em 0; padding: 0px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-content h3 { font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.3em 0; padding: 0px; } /* Customize the button of the popup */ a.pps-btn.pps-button-popup { color: #FFF; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6; font-weight: bold; padding:5px 14px 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #348ECC; border-bottom: 2px solid #1B80C5; border-radius: 3px; } a.pps-btn.pps-button-popup:hover { background-color: #3C9CDD; border-color: #1B80C5; } /* Add additional styles */ #popuppress-725327.pps-popup.pps-has-border:before { top: -22px; right: -22px; width: 46px; height: 46px; -webkit-border-radius: 46px; -moz-border-radius: 46px; border-radius: 46px; background-color: rgba(0,0,0,0.4); } #popuppress-725327 .pps-close { position: absolute; top: -14px; right: -14px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-close a.pps-close-link { font-size: 18px; width: 18px; height: 18px; line-height: 1; background-color: #FFFFFF; -webkit-border-radius: 18px; -moz-border-radius: 18px; border-radius: 18px; } #popuppress-725327 .pps-close a.pps-close-link i.pps-icon:before{ line-height: 1; color: #999999 } #popuppress-725327 .pps-close a.pps-close-link:hover i.pps-icon:before{ color: #222222 } #popuppress-720947 { width: 80%; height: 75%; -webkit-border-radius: 0px; -moz-border-radius: 0px; border-radius: 0px; border: solid 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.4); } #popuppress-720947 .pps-wrap { padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; background-color: #000000; -webkit-border-radius: 0px; -moz-border-radius: 0px; border-radius: 0px; } @media screen and (max-width: 600px){ #popuppress-720947 .pps-wrap { padding: 0.6em; } } #popuppress-720947 .pps-header { background-color: #FFFFFF; -moz-border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px; -webkit-border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px; border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-header h3 { margin-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 14px; padding-left: 0px; border-color: #EEEEEE; line-height: 1.4; font-size: 20px; color: #444444; text-align: left } #popuppress-720947 .pps-content { padding: 0px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-iframe iframe { height: 75px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-pdf iframe { height: 460px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-embed{ min-height: 100px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-embed iframe { width: 100%; height: 100px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-control-nav { bottom: -30px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-content, #popuppress-720947 .pps-content p, #popuppress-720947 .pps-content ul, #popuppress-720947 .pps-content ol, #popuppress-720947 .pps-content em, #popuppress-720947 .pps-content span, #popuppress-720947 .pps-content a { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.6; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-content h1 { font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.5em 0; padding: 0px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-content h2 { font-size: 27.2px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.4em 0; padding: 0px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-content h3 { font-size: 20.8px; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0.3em 0; padding: 0px; } /* Customize the button of the popup */ a.pps-btn.pps-button-popup { color: #FFF; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.6; font-weight: bold; padding:5px 14px 4px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: #348ECC; border-bottom: 2px solid #1B80C5; border-radius: 3px; } a.pps-btn.pps-button-popup:hover { background-color: #3C9CDD; border-color: #1B80C5; } /* Add additional styles */ #popuppress-720947.pps-popup.pps-has-border:before { width: 0px; height: 0px; visibility: hidden; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-close { position: absolute; top: -14px; right: -14px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-close a.pps-close-link { font-size: 18px; width: 18px; height: 18px; line-height: 1; background-color: #FFFFFF; -webkit-border-radius: 18px; -moz-border-radius: 18px; border-radius: 18px; } #popuppress-720947 .pps-close a.pps-close-link i.pps-icon:before{ line-height: 1; color: #999999 } #popuppress-720947 .pps-close a.pps-close-link:hover i.pps-icon:before{ color: #222222 } </style> </head> <body class="article-template-default single single-article postid-734160 single_opinion article-finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table "> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-dark-grayscale"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0 0.49803921568627" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 0.49803921568627" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0 0.49803921568627" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-grayscale"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0 1" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 1" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0 1" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-purple-yellow"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0.54901960784314 0.98823529411765" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 1" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0.71764705882353 0.25490196078431" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-blue-red"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0 1" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 0.27843137254902" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0.5921568627451 0.27843137254902" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-midnight"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0 0" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 0.64705882352941" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0 1" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-magenta-yellow"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0.78039215686275 1" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 0.94901960784314" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0.35294117647059 0.47058823529412" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-purple-green"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0.65098039215686 0.40392156862745" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 1" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0.44705882352941 0.4" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 0 0" width="0" height="0" focusable="false" role="none" style="visibility: hidden; position: absolute; left: -9999px; overflow: hidden;" ><defs><filter id="wp-duotone-blue-orange"><feColorMatrix color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" type="matrix" values=" .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 .299 .587 .114 0 0 " /><feComponentTransfer color-interpolation-filters="sRGB" ><feFuncR type="table" tableValues="0.098039215686275 1" /><feFuncG type="table" tableValues="0 0.66274509803922" /><feFuncB type="table" tableValues="0.84705882352941 0.41960784313725" /><feFuncA type="table" tableValues="1 1" /></feComponentTransfer><feComposite in2="SourceGraphic" operator="in" /></filter></defs></svg> <div id="page" class="site "> <header class=""> <div id="top_bar" class="desktop"> <div class="site-branding"> <p class="site-title"> <a href="https://www.the74million.org/" rel="home">The 74</a> </p> </div> <p class="site-description"><a href="/about">America's Education News Source</a></p> <div id="right_nav"> <nav> <a href="/about"><span>About The 74</span></a> <ul id="top_social" class="social"> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/the74" target="_blank" class="icon-social twitter"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theseventyfour" target="_blank" class="icon-social facebook"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9hwWOOkOpoBNFwUijQ4ZQ" target="_blank" class="icon-social youtube"></a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="donate"> <a href="https://the74.fundjournalism.org/donate/?campaign=7018W000000G6QvQAK" target="_blank"><span>Donate</span></a> </div> </div> </div> <style> .promotional_banner.breaking_news{ background-color: black; text-align: center; max-height: none; } .promotional_banner.breaking_news:hover { background-color: #004EFF; } .promotional_banner.breaking_news p:first-of-type{ font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5rem; max-width: calc(100vw - 150px); margin: 0px auto; } #meter{ display: block; margin: 0.5rem auto; height: 20px; text-align: center; } #meter > div{ width: 100%; height: 20px; max-width: calc(70vw - 140px); border-radius: 10px; background-color: white; display: inline-block; position: relative; overflow: hidden; } #meter > div:after{ content:""; position: absolute; left: 0px; right: 17%; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; background-color: red; } #meter span{ display: inline-block; line-height: 20px; margin: 0 0.5rem; transform: translateY(-0.25rem); width: 30px; text-align: right; } #meter span:last-of-type{ text-align: left; } p.action{ display: inline-block; } .action:after{ content: ''; width: 100%; height: 2px; border-radius: 1px; background-color: red; display: block; } .breaking_news a { max-width: calc(100vw - 150px); margin: 0px auto; } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px) { .breaking_news a { padding: 20px 00px 20px 0px; max-width: calc(100vw - 100px) !important; } #meter{ width: 100%; } #meter > div{ max-width: calc(70vw - 100px); } .hide_module{ position: absolute; top: 20px; right: 20px; transform: none; cursor: pointer; } } </style> <div id="top_banner" class=""> <div id="main_nav"> <!-- Sticky Navigation: for Feature stories --> <!-- single sticky title --> <div id="sticky_title" class="single_sticky_content"> <span>Finally, This Election Season, Child Hunger is on the Table</span> </div> <div id="site-navigation-wrap" class="wrap"> <nav id="site-navigation" class="main-navigation "> <div class="menu-t74_primary-container"><ul id="primary-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-690484" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690484"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/news/">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690485" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690485"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/opinion/">Opinion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589697" class="home menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-589697"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/">Home</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690486" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690486"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/video/">Video</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690483" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690483"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/analysis/">Analysis</a></li> </ul></div> </nav> </div> <div id="hamburger"> <button id="menu_button" class="menu-toggle" aria-controls="primary-menu" aria-expanded="false"> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </button> </div> <div id="search-trigger"><span>Search</span></div> <div class="donate"><a href="https://the74.fundjournalism.org/donate/?campaign=7018W000000G6QvQAK"><span>Donate</span></a></div> </div> </div> <div id="search"> <form method="get" id="searchform" action="https://www.the74million.org/"> <input type="text" placeholder="What are you searching for?" value="" name="s" id="s"> <button type="submit" form="searchform" value="Submit">Search</button> </form> </div> <div id="sub_nav"> <div class="sub_navigation wrap grid"> <nav class="sn_sections"> <h3>Sections</h3> <div class="menu-t74_footer_sections-container"><ul id="footer_sections" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-690490" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690490"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/news/">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690489" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690489"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/opinion/">Opinion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690487" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690487"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/video/">Video</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690488" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690488"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/analysis/">Analysis</a></li> </ul></div> <h3>Interactive</h3> <div class="menu-t74-interactive-container"><ul id="footer_interactive" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-715705" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-715705"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/school-staffing-map/">School Staffing Map</a></li> </ul></div></nav> <nav class="sn_series no_footer"> <h3>Series</h3> <div class="menu-t74_series-container"><ul id="footer_series" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-718300" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-718300"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/school-insecurity/">School (In)Security</a></li> <li id="menu-item-704323" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-704323"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/futureofhs/">Future of High School</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589788" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589788"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/pandemic/">Pandemic</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589789" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589789"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/education-data-big-picture/">The Big Picture</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589791" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589791"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/the-74-interview/">The 74 Interview</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589874" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589874"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/educator-weavers/">Weaving a Stronger Society</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589792" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589792"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/4fams/">4Fams</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589793" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589793"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/keepingit100/">Keeping It 100</a></li> </ul></div></nav> <nav class="sn_topics no_footer"> <h3>Topics</h3> <span class="grid"> <div class="menu-t74_topics-container"><ul id="footer_topics" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-589801" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589801"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/education-data-big-picture/">Research</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589802" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589802"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/critical-race-theory/">critical race theory</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690051" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690051"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/investigation/">Investigation</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589876" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589876"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/surveillance/">Surveillance</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589803" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589803"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/teacher-voice/">teacher voice</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589804" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589804"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/ed-tech/">ed tech</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589805" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589805"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/learning-loss/">learning loss</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589806" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589806"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/politics/">Politics</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589808" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589808"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/texas/">Texas</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589809" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589809"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/solutions/">Solutions</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589810" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589810"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/los-angeles/">Los Angeles</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690052" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690052"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/mental-health/">Youth mental health</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690053" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690053"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/innovation-recovery/">COVID Recovery</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690054" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690054"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/stem/">STEM</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690087" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-690087"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/pandemic/">Pandemic</a></li> </ul></div> <span> </nav> <nav class="sn_special_ops no_footer"> <h3>Podcasts</h3> <div class="menu-t74_podcasts-container"><ul id="footer_podcasts" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-589787" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589787"><a href="/class-disrupted-podcast/">Class Disrupted</a></li> </ul></div> <h3>The 74 Enterprise</h3> <div class="menu-t74_enterprise-container"><ul id="footer_enterprise" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-589893" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589893"><a href="https://www.laschoolreport.com">LA School Report</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589880" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589880"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/covid-warriors/">COVID Warriors</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690049" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-690049"><a href="https://brown65.the74million.org/">Brown v. Board</a></li> <li id="menu-item-690050" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-690050"><a href="https://breakthrough.the74million.org/">B.A. Breakthrough</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589764" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589764"><a href="/enterprise">View All ></a></li> </ul></div></nav> <nav class="sn_pages"> <h3>The 74</h3> <div class="menu-t74_footer_pages-container"><ul id="footer_pages" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-589765" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589765"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/">About Us</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589771" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589771"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/team/">Team</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589770" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589770"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/supporters/">Supporters</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589767" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589767"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/job-openings/">Jobs</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589766" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589766"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589769" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589769"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/newsletters/">Newsletters</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589768" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589768"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/membership/">Donate to The 74</a></li> <li id="menu-item-589774" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589774"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/code-of-ethics/">Code of Ethics</a></li> </ul></div></nav> </div> <div class="nav_bottom"> <div class="wrap grid"> <!--left--> <div id="ft_left"> <div id="ft_contact"> <h3 class="arrow">Contact Us</h3> <a href="mailto:feedback@the74million.org">feedback@the74million.org</a> </div> <div id="ft_social"> <h3 class="arrow">Follow Us</h3> <ul class="social"> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/the74" target="_blank" class="icon-social twitter"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_74/" target="_blank" class="icon-social instagram"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theseventyfour" target="_blank" class="icon-social facebook"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9hwWOOkOpoBNFwUijQ4ZQ" target="_blank" class="icon-social youtube"></a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="mobile"> <span><a href="/about/membership/">Support the 74</a></span> </button> <a class="republish underline" href="/republish">Republish Our Content</a> </div> <!--center--> <div id="ft_center"> <div id="ft_branding"> <a href="/">The 74</a> </div> </div> <!--right--> <div id="ft_right"> <span class="desktop"> <button><span><a href="/about/membership/">Support the 74</a></span></button> <div class="donate"><a href="https://the74.fundjournalism.org/donate/?campaign=7018W000000G5mHQAS"><span>Donate</span></a></div> </span> <div id="ft_legal"> <a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> <a href="/terms-conditions">Terms & Conditions</a> <p class="copyright">Copyright 2024 The 74 Media, Inc</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div id="content" > <!--Topics--> <section id="topics"> <div> <h2 class="arrow">Explore</h2> <div> <div class="menu-t74_header_topics-container"><ul id="header_topics" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-729887" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-729887"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/edlection-2024/">EDlection 2024</a></li> <li id="menu-item-732980" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-732980"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/futureofhs/">Future of High School</a></li> <li id="menu-item-708807" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-708807"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/artificial-intelligence/">Artificial Intelligence</a></li> <li id="menu-item-702186" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-702186"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/stem/">STEM</a></li> <li id="menu-item-707177" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-707177"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/science-of-reading/">science of reading</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </section> <div id="single_cta"><a href="https://the74.fundjournalism.org/donate/?campaign=7015e000001GnPfAAK" target="_blank">Support The 74 and stories like this one. <span>Donate Today!</span></a></div><article> <div class="wrap"> <div class="article_head"> <div class="article_terms"> <div class="post_tag"><span><a href="https://www.the74million.org/category/opinion/">Opinion</a></span></div> </div> <h1 class="headline">Finally, This Election Season, Child Hunger is on the Table</h1> <h2 class="subtitle">Shore: With food prices unusually high, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must come together and support an anti-hunger agenda.</h2> <figure class=""> <img width="1200" height="720" src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" srcset="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2.jpg 1200w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2-300x180.jpg 300w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2-825x495.jpg 825w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2-215x129.jpg 215w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2-768x461.jpg 768w, https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2-232x139.jpg 232w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /> <figcaption> Democratic vice presidential candidate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 21, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="article_body"> <div class="byline"> <address class="author"> By <a rel="author" href="https://www.the74million.org/contributor/billy-shore/">Billy Shore</a> </address> <time pubdate datetime="2024-10-20" title="October 20, 2024">October 20, 2024</time><br/> <span class="op_disclaimer">The views expressed here are those of the author.<span> </div> <div class="single_share"> <ul> <li><a class="icon-social twitter" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/&text=Finally%2C+This+Election+Season%2C+Child+Hunger+is+on+the+Table @The74" target="_blank" title="Share this story on X"></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/" target="_blank" title="Share this story on Facebook"></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social bluesky" href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Finally%2C+This+Election+Season%2C+Child+Hunger+is+on+the+Table%21%20https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/" target="_blank" title="Share this story on BlueSky Social" ></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social flipboard" href="https://flipboard.com" data-flip-widget="shareflip" ><img src="https://cdn.flipboard.com/badges/flipboard_mbsw.png" /></a><script src="https://cdn.flipboard.com/web/buttons/js/flbuttons.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script></li> <li><a class="icon-social mailto" href="mailto:?body=https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/&subject=From The 74" target="_blank" title="E-mail this story"></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social republish" href="#" onclick="t74_show_republish_box();" target="_blank" title="Republish this story"></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="grid"> <div class="article_sidebar sidebar desktop"> <div id="newsletter_signup"> <div> <figure> <img src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/images/head-in-clouds-250x260.gif);"> </figure> <span> <h5 class="response response_content sans">Untangle Your Mind!</h5> <p>Sign up for our free newsletter and start your day with in-depth reporting on the latest topics in education.</p> </span> </div> <form id="signup_banner" class="email-form" action="" method="POST"> <input type="email" name="email" placeholder="Enter Email Address"/> <input id="last_name" name="last_name" type="text" value=""> <input type="radio" name="t74_tag" id="t74_tag" value="t74_subscribe_selected" checked="checked"/> <button type="submit" form="signup_banner" class="btn"><span>Sign Up</span></button> </form> </div> <!--<div id="support_box"> <img src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/images/hugging-square.jpg"> <h5>74 Million Reasons to Give</h5> <p>Support The 74’s year-end campaign with a tax-exempt donation and invest in our future.</p> <button onclick="window.open('https://the74.fundjournalism.org/donate/?campaign=701EY0000009ov7YAA', '_blank');" type="button"> <span>Give Today!</span> </button> </div>--> <div id="most_popular" class="sidebar_posts"> <h3>Most Popular</h3> <ul> <li data-count="19144"> <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/ending-the-u-s-department-of-education-what-it-would-mean-and-why-trump-and-project-2025-want-it/"> <span class="cat">EDlection 2024</span> <h5>Abolishing the Department of Education: Why Trump and Project 2025 Want It</h5> </a> </li> <li data-count="17286"> <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/why-teachers-dont-use-the-high-quality-instructional-materials-theyre-given/"> <span class="cat">Analysis</span> <h5>Why Teachers Don’t Use the High-Quality Instructional Materials They’re Given</h5> </a> </li> <li data-count="14650"> <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/at-special-ed-teacher-shortage-hearing-panelists-debate-dismantling-ed-dept/"> <span class="cat">teacher workforce</span> <h5>At Special Ed Teacher Shortage Hearing, Panelists Debate Dismantling Ed Dept.</h5> </a> </li> <li data-count="10941"> <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/feds-charge-once-lauded-allhere-ai-founder-in-10m-scheme-to-defraud-investors/"> <span class="cat">Artificial Intelligence</span> <h5>Feds Charge Once-Lauded AllHere AI Founder in $10M Scheme to Defraud Investors</h5> </a> </li> <li data-count="7167"> <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/what-happens-when-large-numbers-of-teachers-quit-a-school-and-what-can-be-done/"> <span class="cat">Analysis</span> <h5>What Happens When Large Numbers of Teachers Quit a School? And What Can Be Done?</h5> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="article_content"> <!--Header Call to Action Content--> <span class="cta_snippet"><p><em>Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. </em><a class="arrow" href="https://www.the74million.org/about/newsletters/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top&utm_id=newsletter"><strong>Sign up for The 74 Newsletter</strong></a></p></span> <!--Series Tout Language when applicable--> <p>As the presidential and vice presidential candidates campaign this election season, Americans are hearing about an issue that’s often ignored in politics, but has the power to change the nation’s future: child hunger.</p> <p>The issue is not new, but the numbers are trending in the wrong direction: A <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/109896/err-337.pdf?v=8442.7">new government report</a> shows 19.2% of children lived in food-insecure households in 2023, the second consecutive yearly increase following a 15-year low <a href="http://chrome-extension//efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/104656/err-309_summary.pdf?v=1524.4">in 2021</a>, when just 10.2% of children lived in food-insecure households. The spikes came as pandemic-era policies expired, like the Enhanced Child Tax Credit in 2021 and emergency allotments for SNAP in 2023. </p> <p>This is unacceptable, especially when the U.S. has the tools to end child hunger.</p> <p>Free school meals have been around for more than 50 years. Both Democrats and Republicans have acknowledged that well-nourished kids achieve better academically, and everyone benefits from a stronger economy and greater national security, when children are fed.</p> <p>For the first time in a long time, the role of school meals in eliminating hunger made it into the national conversation when Minnesota Gov. <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/never-underestimate-a-public-school-teacher-walzs-speech-stirs-night-three-of-dnc/">Tim Walz</a> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/22/tim-walz-dnc-speech-full-transcript">spoke of the issue</a> while accepting the Democratic nomination for vice president.</p> <p>While it may be unusual for hunger in the classroom to make a prominent appearance in a presidential campaign, it’s not unusual for an educator — which Walz was for many years — to insist that food is the most important school supply. For many kids, school meals are the most nutritious of the day, helping to fuel their success in the classroom and beyond.</p> <aside class="inline_story shortcode simple"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/never-underestimate-a-public-school-teacher-walzs-speech-stirs-night-three-of-dnc/"><figure style="background-image: url(https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024.jpg);"></figure><div><span class="sans related_tag">Related</span><h4 class="sans">‘Never Underestimate a Public School Teacher’: Walz’s Speech Stirs Night Three of DNC</h4></div></a></aside> <p>Good work is happening across the country to reach more students with school meals. At least eight states, including Minnesota, have made school meals universal, meaning they’re available to all students regardless of family income. Others, like Texas, are getting rid of categories of need — making meals programs run more efficiently, reducing the stigma of receiving free or low-cost meals and feeding <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/community/no-kid-hungry-texas-state-budget-no-cost-breakfasts/269-a293bcbe-bb3f-4c5e-9c6d-e9312d56008b">nearly 70,000 more kids breakfast as a result</a>.</p> <p>For decades, barely half of students who got free or reduced-price lunch also ate breakfast at school. Now, many schools have embraced breakfast-after-the-bell options, like letting kids eat in class during first period or offering grab-and-go options. This overcomes the challenge of getting to the cafeteria before school starts, and the stigma in doing so.</p> <p>And in summer, when schools are closed, new flexibility in rural communities is allowing food service providers to reach many more kids with meals thanks to pick-up and delivery options.</p> <p>These innovations and policy wins have helped feed millions more children each day.</p> <p>But with food prices unusually high — an issue acknowledged by presidential candidates of both parties — lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must come together and support an anti-hunger agenda.</p> <p>Just as school meals are an important part of a vision for a country without child hunger, so are investments in programs that connect families with the economic resources they need.</p> <aside class="inline_story shortcode simple"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/long-a-stranger-to-the-spotlight-child-tax-credit-earns-embrace-of-both-parties/"><figure style="background-image: url(https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/child-tax-credit-bipartisan-support.png);"></figure><div><span class="sans related_tag">Related</span><h4 class="sans">Long a Stranger to the Spotlight, Child Tax Credit Earns Embrace of Both Parties</h4></div></a></aside> <p>This year, Congress had the opportunity to expand the <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/long-a-stranger-to-the-spotlight-child-tax-credit-earns-embrace-of-both-parties/">Child Tax Credit</a> and extend a lifeline to families with very little income, ensuring they could receive the full refundable credit for every kid in the household and ultimately reducing <a href="https://www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/what-2023-child-poverty-rates-could-have-looked-like">child poverty</a> <a href="https://www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/what-2023-child-poverty-rates-could-have-looked-like">by nearly half</a>. But though the measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House, it was blocked in the Senate. With major tax policy negotiations on the horizon in 2025, lawmakers should prioritize reinstating an expanded Child Tax Credit.</p> <p>When lawmakers make feeding children a priority, families get transformational improvements like the new Summer EBT program that launched this year, providing food assistance to the families of an estimated 22 million kids. It’s the first new federal nutrition program in decades, working alongside traditional summer meals offerings to make sure kids get the food they need during the hungriest time of year. </p> <p>Yet, in this first year, 13 states did not participate, leaving money on the table that could have fed an <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt/estimated-children-eligible">estimated 8 to 9 million more children</a> and helped their families stretch their food budgets. Summer EBT is a tremendous opportunity to end hunger when school is out. All 50 states must opt in.</p> <p>Federal nutrition programs and tax benefits for working families are really investments in opportunity for everyone. School meals create the opportunity to learn. Summer EBT creates the opportunity for families to eat healthy all year round. The Child Tax Credit creates opportunities to achieve economic mobility. And the aspiration for opportunity truly is universal.These programs aren’t just good policy; they’re good politics, too. <a href="https://www.nokidhungry.org/">No Kid Hungry</a> conducted statewide polls this year in <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/florida/2024/04/18/2024-florida-hunger-survey/">Florida</a>, <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/texas/2024/09/03/new-no-kid-hungry-poll-finds-texas-families-struggling-to-afford-groceries-as-costs-rise-faster-than-incomes/">Texas</a>, <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/virginia/2024/09/16/new-poll-78-of-virginians-struggling-to-afford-groceries/">Virginia </a>and <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/new-york/2024-new-york-hunger-survey-new-yorkers-struggle-to-afford-groceries-as-prices-outpace-incomes/">New York</a>, and in all four states, respondents were nearly unanimous (93% agreement or above) that ending childhood hunger should be a shared bipartisan goal. In an election year that’s likely to see precincts won on slim margins, it’s prudent that aspiring leaders keep this in mind.</p> <!--Donation Box--> <!--Footer Call to Action Content--> <span class="cta_snippet ft"><p><em>Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. </em><a class="arrow" href="https://www.the74million.org/about/newsletters/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top&utm_id=newsletter"><strong>Sign up for The 74 Newsletter</strong></a></p></span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="article_footer grid"> <div class="single_share"> <ul> <li><a class="icon-social twitter" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/&text=Finally%2C+This+Election+Season%2C+Child+Hunger+is+on+the+Table @The74" target="_blank" title="Share this story on X"></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/" target="_blank" title="Share this story on Facebook"></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social bluesky" href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Finally%2C+This+Election+Season%2C+Child+Hunger+is+on+the+Table%21%20https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/" target="_blank" title="Share this story on BlueSky Social" ></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social flipboard" href="https://flipboard.com" data-flip-widget="shareflip" ><img src="https://cdn.flipboard.com/badges/flipboard_mbsw.png" /></a><script src="https://cdn.flipboard.com/web/buttons/js/flbuttons.min.js" type="text/javascript"></script></li> <li><a class="icon-social mailto" href="mailto:?body=https://www.the74million.org/article/finally-this-election-season-child-hunger-is-on-the-table/&subject=From The 74" target="_blank" title="E-mail this story"></a></li> <li><a class="icon-social republish" href="#" onclick="t74_show_republish_box();" target="_blank" title="Republish this story"></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="republish"> <a href="#" onclick="t74_show_republish_box();"> Republish This Article <span class="desktop">Learn More</span> </a> </div> <div class="author_profile"> <address class=""> <p><a class="author_inline_link" href="https://www.the74million.org/contributor/billy-shore/">Billy Shore</a> is the founder and executive chair of Share Our Strength, the parent organization for the No Kid Hungry campaign.</p> <div class="author_image" style="background-image:url(https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Billy-Shore-300x300.jpg)"> <img src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Billy-Shore-300x300.jpg"> </div> </address> </div> <div class="article_tags desktop"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/child-tax-credit/">Child Tax Credit</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/commentary/">commentary</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/donald-trump/">Donald Trump</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/edlection-2024/">EDlection 2024</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/hunger/">hunger</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/kamala-harris/">kamala harris</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/opinion/">opinion</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/tim-walz/">Tim Walz</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </article> <!--pop-up box of article details --> <div id="republish-box" data-postid=734160 data-gaid="UA-64416702-1" data-ga4id="G-YQBR2DBZ9Z"> <div> <span class="sans">Republish This Article</span> <p><i>We want our stories to be shared as widely as possible — for free.</i></p> <p><a style="color:white" href="/republish/"><i>Please view The 74's republishing terms.</i></a></p><br/><br/> <textarea id="repub_content" class="text-scroller" readonly> <h1>Finally, This Election Season, Child Hunger is on the Table</h1> <h2>Shore: With food prices unusually high, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must come together and support an anti-hunger agenda.</h2> <p class="sans">By <a rel="author" href="https://www.the74million.org/contributor/billy-shore/">Billy Shore</a></p> <img src="https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024-2.jpg"> <p>This story first appeared at <a href="https://www.the74million.org">The 74</a>, a nonprofit news site covering education. <a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/newsletters/?utm_source=republish-button&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=republish">Sign up for free newsletters from The 74</a> to get more like this in your inbox.</p> <p>As the presidential and vice presidential candidates campaign this election season, Americans are hearing about an issue that’s often ignored in politics, but has the power to change the nation’s future: child hunger.</p> <p>The issue is not new, but the numbers are trending in the wrong direction: A <a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/109896/err-337.pdf?v=8442.7">new government report</a> shows 19.2% of children lived in food-insecure households in 2023, the second consecutive yearly increase following a 15-year low <a href="http://chrome-extension//efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/104656/err-309_summary.pdf?v=1524.4">in 2021</a>, when just 10.2% of children lived in food-insecure households. The spikes came as pandemic-era policies expired, like the Enhanced Child Tax Credit in 2021 and emergency allotments for SNAP in 2023. </p> <p>This is unacceptable, especially when the U.S. has the tools to end child hunger.</p> <p>Free school meals have been around for more than 50 years. Both Democrats and Republicans have acknowledged that well-nourished kids achieve better academically, and everyone benefits from a stronger economy and greater national security, when children are fed.</p> <p>For the first time in a long time, the role of school meals in eliminating hunger made it into the national conversation when Minnesota Gov. <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/never-underestimate-a-public-school-teacher-walzs-speech-stirs-night-three-of-dnc/">Tim Walz</a> <a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/08/22/tim-walz-dnc-speech-full-transcript">spoke of the issue</a> while accepting the Democratic nomination for vice president.</p> <p>While it may be unusual for hunger in the classroom to make a prominent appearance in a presidential campaign, it’s not unusual for an educator — which Walz was for many years — to insist that food is the most important school supply. For many kids, school meals are the most nutritious of the day, helping to fuel their success in the classroom and beyond.</p> <aside class="inline_story shortcode simple"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/never-underestimate-a-public-school-teacher-walzs-speech-stirs-night-three-of-dnc/"><figure style="background-image: url(https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Tim-Walz-DNC-2024.jpg);"></figure><div><span class="sans related_tag">Related</span><h4 class="sans">‘Never Underestimate a Public School Teacher’: Walz’s Speech Stirs Night Three of DNC</h4></div></a></aside> <p>Good work is happening across the country to reach more students with school meals. At least eight states, including Minnesota, have made school meals universal, meaning they’re available to all students regardless of family income. Others, like Texas, are getting rid of categories of need — making meals programs run more efficiently, reducing the stigma of receiving free or low-cost meals and feeding <a href="https://www.kvue.com/article/news/community/no-kid-hungry-texas-state-budget-no-cost-breakfasts/269-a293bcbe-bb3f-4c5e-9c6d-e9312d56008b">nearly 70,000 more kids breakfast as a result</a>.</p> <p>For decades, barely half of students who got free or reduced-price lunch also ate breakfast at school. Now, many schools have embraced breakfast-after-the-bell options, like letting kids eat in class during first period or offering grab-and-go options. This overcomes the challenge of getting to the cafeteria before school starts, and the stigma in doing so.</p> <p>And in summer, when schools are closed, new flexibility in rural communities is allowing food service providers to reach many more kids with meals thanks to pick-up and delivery options.</p> <p>These innovations and policy wins have helped feed millions more children each day.</p> <p>But with food prices unusually high — an issue acknowledged by presidential candidates of both parties — lawmakers on both sides of the aisle must come together and support an anti-hunger agenda.</p> <p>Just as school meals are an important part of a vision for a country without child hunger, so are investments in programs that connect families with the economic resources they need.</p> <aside class="inline_story shortcode simple"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/long-a-stranger-to-the-spotlight-child-tax-credit-earns-embrace-of-both-parties/"><figure style="background-image: url(https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/child-tax-credit-bipartisan-support.png);"></figure><div><span class="sans related_tag">Related</span><h4 class="sans">Long a Stranger to the Spotlight, Child Tax Credit Earns Embrace of Both Parties</h4></div></a></aside> <p>This year, Congress had the opportunity to expand the <a href="https://www.the74million.org/article/long-a-stranger-to-the-spotlight-child-tax-credit-earns-embrace-of-both-parties/">Child Tax Credit</a> and extend a lifeline to families with very little income, ensuring they could receive the full refundable credit for every kid in the household and ultimately reducing <a href="https://www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/what-2023-child-poverty-rates-could-have-looked-like">child poverty</a> <a href="https://www.povertycenter.columbia.edu/publication/what-2023-child-poverty-rates-could-have-looked-like">by nearly half</a>. But though the measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House, it was blocked in the Senate. With major tax policy negotiations on the horizon in 2025, lawmakers should prioritize reinstating an expanded Child Tax Credit.</p> <p>When lawmakers make feeding children a priority, families get transformational improvements like the new Summer EBT program that launched this year, providing food assistance to the families of an estimated 22 million kids. It’s the first new federal nutrition program in decades, working alongside traditional summer meals offerings to make sure kids get the food they need during the hungriest time of year. </p> <p>Yet, in this first year, 13 states did not participate, leaving money on the table that could have fed an <a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt/estimated-children-eligible">estimated 8 to 9 million more children</a> and helped their families stretch their food budgets. Summer EBT is a tremendous opportunity to end hunger when school is out. All 50 states must opt in.</p> <p>Federal nutrition programs and tax benefits for working families are really investments in opportunity for everyone. School meals create the opportunity to learn. Summer EBT creates the opportunity for families to eat healthy all year round. The Child Tax Credit creates opportunities to achieve economic mobility. And the aspiration for opportunity truly is universal.These programs aren’t just good policy; they’re good politics, too. <a href="https://www.nokidhungry.org/">No Kid Hungry</a> conducted statewide polls this year in <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/florida/2024/04/18/2024-florida-hunger-survey/">Florida</a>, <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/texas/2024/09/03/new-no-kid-hungry-poll-finds-texas-families-struggling-to-afford-groceries-as-costs-rise-faster-than-incomes/">Texas</a>, <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/virginia/2024/09/16/new-poll-78-of-virginians-struggling-to-afford-groceries/">Virginia </a>and <a href="https://state.nokidhungry.org/new-york/2024-new-york-hunger-survey-new-yorkers-struggle-to-afford-groceries-as-prices-outpace-incomes/">New York</a>, and in all four states, respondents were nearly unanimous (93% agreement or above) that ending childhood hunger should be a shared bipartisan goal. In an election year that’s likely to see precincts won on slim margins, it’s prudent that aspiring leaders keep this in mind.</p> </textarea><br/> <button onclick="t74_copyContents('repub_content')">Copy HTML</button><br/> </div> <div id="repub-overlay" onclick="t74_show_republish_box();"></div> </div> <!--show the frontpage again--> <div id="frontpage-repeat"> <div class="wrap"> <section id="category" class="capped"> <h2>On The 74 Today</h2> </section> </div> <div id="frontpage-repeat-container"></div> </div> </div> <!--closing the_content div --> <footer> <div class="sub_navigation wrap grid"> <nav class="sn_sections"> <h3>Sections</h3> <div class="menu-t74_footer_sections-container"><ul id="footer_sections" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690490"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/news/">News</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690489"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/opinion/">Opinion</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690487"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/video/">Video</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-690488"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/analysis/">Analysis</a></li> </ul></div> <h3>Interactive</h3> <div class="menu-t74-interactive-container"><ul id="footer_interactive" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-715705"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/school-staffing-map/">School Staffing Map</a></li> </ul></div></nav> <nav class="sn_series no_footer"> <h3>Series</h3> <div class="menu-t74_series-container"><ul id="footer_series" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-718300"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/school-insecurity/">School (In)Security</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-704323"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/futureofhs/">Future of High School</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589788"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/pandemic/">Pandemic</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589789"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/education-data-big-picture/">The Big Picture</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589791"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/the-74-interview/">The 74 Interview</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589874"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/educator-weavers/">Weaving a Stronger Society</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589792"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/4fams/">4Fams</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589793"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/keepingit100/">Keeping It 100</a></li> </ul></div></nav> <nav class="sn_topics no_footer"> <h3>Topics</h3> <span class="grid"> <div class="menu-t74_topics-container"><ul id="footer_topics" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589801"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/education-data-big-picture/">Research</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589802"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/critical-race-theory/">critical race theory</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690051"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/investigation/">Investigation</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589876"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/surveillance/">Surveillance</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589803"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/teacher-voice/">teacher voice</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589804"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/ed-tech/">ed tech</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589805"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/learning-loss/">learning loss</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589806"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/politics/">Politics</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589808"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/texas/">Texas</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589809"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/solutions/">Solutions</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-589810"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/los-angeles/">Los Angeles</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690052"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/mental-health/">Youth mental health</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690053"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/innovation-recovery/">COVID Recovery</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-post_tag menu-item-690054"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/tag/stem/">STEM</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-690087"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/pandemic/">Pandemic</a></li> </ul></div> <span> </nav> <nav class="sn_special_ops no_footer"> <h3>Podcasts</h3> <div class="menu-t74_podcasts-container"><ul id="footer_podcasts" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589787"><a href="/class-disrupted-podcast/">Class Disrupted</a></li> </ul></div> <h3>The 74 Enterprise</h3> <div class="menu-t74_enterprise-container"><ul id="footer_enterprise" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589893"><a href="https://www.laschoolreport.com">LA School Report</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-589880"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/series/covid-warriors/">COVID Warriors</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-690049"><a href="https://brown65.the74million.org/">Brown v. Board</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-690050"><a href="https://breakthrough.the74million.org/">B.A. Breakthrough</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-589764"><a href="/enterprise">View All ></a></li> </ul></div></nav> <nav class="sn_pages"> <h3>The 74</h3> <div class="menu-t74_footer_pages-container"><ul id="footer_pages" class="menu"><li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589765"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/">About Us</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589771"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/team/">Team</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589770"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/supporters/">Supporters</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589767"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/job-openings/">Jobs</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589766"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589769"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/newsletters/">Newsletters</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589768"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/about/membership/">Donate to The 74</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-589774"><a href="https://www.the74million.org/code-of-ethics/">Code of Ethics</a></li> </ul></div></nav> </div> <div class="nav_bottom"> <div class="wrap grid"> <!--left--> <div id="ft_left"> <div id="ft_contact"> <h3 class="arrow">Contact Us</h3> <a href="mailto:feedback@the74million.org">feedback@the74million.org</a> </div> <div id="ft_social"> <h3 class="arrow">Follow Us</h3> <ul class="social"> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/the74" target="_blank" class="icon-social twitter"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_74/" target="_blank" class="icon-social instagram"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/theseventyfour" target="_blank" class="icon-social facebook"></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9hwWOOkOpoBNFwUijQ4ZQ" target="_blank" class="icon-social youtube"></a></li> </ul> </div> <button class="mobile"> <span><a href="/about/membership/">Support the 74</a></span> </button> <a class="republish underline" href="/republish">Republish Our Content</a> </div> <!--center--> <div id="ft_center"> <div id="ft_branding"> <a href="/">The 74</a> </div> </div> <!--right--> <div id="ft_right"> <span class="desktop"> <button><span><a href="/about/membership/">Support the 74</a></span></button> <div class="donate"><a href="https://the74.fundjournalism.org/donate/?campaign=7018W000000G5mHQAS"><span>Donate</span></a></div> </span> <div id="ft_legal"> <a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> <a href="/terms-conditions">Terms & Conditions</a> <p class="copyright">Copyright 2024 The 74 Media, Inc</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div><!-- #page --> <!-- video shorts layover --> <div id="video_shorts_container"> <div id="video_shorts_player"></div> </div> <style> #video_shorts_container{ background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); z-index: 100; position: fixed; top: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; right: 0px; opacity: 0; transform: translateY(100vw); transition: opacity 0.25s linear; } body.video_short_active #video_shorts_container { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0vw); } #video_shorts_player{ position: fixed; top: 50%; left: 50%; z-index: 100; transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(100vw); opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.25s linear; } body.video_short_active #video_shorts_player{ transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(-50%); max-width: calc(100vw - 40px); opacity: 1; } </style> <!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https://optinmonster.com :: Campaign Title: School Insecurity Q4 2024 --> <script>(function(d,u,ac){var s=d.createElement('script');s.type='text/javascript';s.src='https://a.omappapi.com/app/js/api.min.js';s.async=true;s.dataset.user=u;s.dataset.campaign=ac;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);})(document,293316,'ciy5ywdalkm5w63nzmys');</script> <!-- / OptinMonster --><!-- This site is converting visitors into subscribers and customers with OptinMonster - https://optinmonster.com :: Campaign Title: Tim Walz newsletter --> <script>(function(d,u,ac){var s=d.createElement('script');s.type='text/javascript';s.src='https://a.omappapi.com/app/js/api.min.js';s.async=true;s.dataset.user=u;s.dataset.campaign=ac;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);})(document,293316,'ihbmx6xyxxghmosjfbcd');</script> <!-- / OptinMonster --> <script type="text/javascript"> var ciy5ywdalkm5w63nzmys_shortcode = true;var ihbmx6xyxxghmosjfbcd_shortcode = true; </script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/js/simplebar.js?ver=1.0.01187318093' id='simplebar-js'></script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/themes/T74v2/js/main.js?ver=1.0.01187318093' id='main-js'></script> <script src='https://www.youtube.com/iframe_api?ver=6.1.1' id='player-js'></script> <script>(function(d){var s=d.createElement("script");s.type="text/javascript";s.src="https://a.omappapi.com/app/js/api.min.js";s.async=true;s.id="omapi-script";d.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(s);})(document);</script><script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/plugins/popup-press/js/libs/bpopup.js?ver=0.10' id='pps_bPopup-js'></script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/plugins/popup-press/js/libs/jquery.popupslider.js?ver=2.5.0' id='pps_popupslider-js'></script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/plugins/popup-press/js/libs/jquery.cookie.js?ver=1.4.1' id='pps_jCookie-js'></script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/plugins/popup-press/js/libs/jquery.easing.1.3.js?ver=1.3' id='pps_easing-js'></script> <script id='pps_js_script-js-extra'> var PPS = {"ajaxurlPps":"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","loader_text":"","version":"3.1.6"}; </script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/plugins/popup-press/js/pps_script.js?ver=3.1.6' id='pps_js_script-js'></script> <script src='https://www.the74million.org/wp-content/plugins/optinmonster/assets/dist/js/helper.min.js?ver=2.14.1' id='optinmonster-wp-helper-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript'> jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(".pps-popup").on("ppsOnOpen", function(e){ //Do something when you open any popups }); $("#popuppress-5").on("ppsOnClose", function(e){ //Do something when you close the popup id = 5 }); });</script> <script type="text/javascript">var omapi_localized = { ajax: 'https://www.the74million.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?optin-monster-ajax-route=1', nonce: 'a53bbd03ee', slugs: {"ciy5ywdalkm5w63nzmys":{"slug":"ciy5ywdalkm5w63nzmys","mailpoet":false},"ihbmx6xyxxghmosjfbcd":{"slug":"ihbmx6xyxxghmosjfbcd","mailpoet":false}} };</script> <script type="text/javascript">var omapi_data = {"object_id":734160,"object_key":"article","object_type":"post","term_ids":[191,1763,5504,2906,7109,1448,5969,1374,6146],"wp_json":"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/wp-json","wc_active":false,"edd_active":false,"nonce":"ab52bc7182"};</script> </body> </html>