Legislative Update, 10/02/2020

On Thursday, October 1, 2020, a continuing resolution was approved to extend $1.4 trillion in government funding until December 11, 2020. A summary of the resolution is available here. Notably, it:

  • allows the Food and Nutrition Service to spend at a higher rate, ensuring the Summer EBT program is fully operational by May 2021;
  • allows the Food and Nutrition Service to spend at a higher rate to provide supplemental USDA foods to low-income seniors and to some low-income women, infants, and children up to age six;
  • extends funding for the Temporary Assistance for Need Families program and the Child Care Entitlement to States program to allow HHS to make first-quarter payments to states;
  • extends P-EBT through September 30, 2021, and expands the program to include children at child care centers affected by COVID-19 closures and reduced attendance;
  • extends waivers for the National School Lunch Program and WIC that were included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act until September 30, 2021 (includes non-congregate and meal pattern waivers);
  • allows states to extend administrative flexibilities for SNAP through September 30, 2021; and
  • includes $8 billion for nutrition assistance for children and families.