In August 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed a new rule to change Broad Based Categorical Eligibility, or “cat-el” for short. Here’s our summary of the rule: Don’t Let USDA Take Away Food.
To recap, cat-el allows states to determine how they will implement programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The proposed rule will eliminate cat-el while will have a ripple effect for a number of programs associated with SNAP.
In addition to removing a state’s flexibility to determine the poverty level based on the needs of their state, we will also see the elimination of automatic enrollment in programs like school meals. Currently, families that receive SNAP and have children attending public schools, those children are automatically enrolled for free school breakfast and lunch.
Our CEO, Dave Krepcho, spoke with News 13 about the proposed change and what this could mean for thousands of Central Florida children who receive free school breakfast and lunch.
“Those meals might be one of the few that child gets during the day,” he told News 13. Read the article here: Orlando Food Bank CEO: SNAP Changes Will Leave Kids Hungry
So, what could happen?
By the Florida Department of Children and Families’ own estimates, we should expect to see 157,000 children in Florida be impacted by this rule change. This may cause meals to disappear from students’ plates and lead to instability and uncertainty due to no fault of their own.
