Rep. Adams Says School Lunch Bill Harms Low-Income Children

North Carolina Representative Alma Adams has come out against a proposed school lunch bill working its way through the U.S. House. Adams and other child advocates believe the bill would be harmful to low-income children.

The bill is called the Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016. It proposes a block grant that provides states with a fixed amount of federal funding.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Todd Rokita, an Indiana Republican. He says it uses taxpayer dollars more effectively, and increases breakfast reimbursements for schools.

But opponents argue that there is no allowance for flexibility in the case of changing enrollments.

The News and Observer reports the bill is being challenged by Adams and Lynn Harvey, chief of North Carolina's child nutrition services.

Adams says the bill “fundamentally harms the program's ability to respond to changes and reduce children's needs.”

According to the School Nutrition Association, the proposed block grant pilot could mean a loss of $24 million for North Carolina.