Child Nutrition and FMAP Votes This Week

 

Dear Partners,

We wanted to get you the latest information about two important priorities that we have been working on over the past several months: child nutrition reauthorization (CNR) and the enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) extension. Senate votes on both issues are expected this week prior to when the Senate adjourns for the August recess on Friday, August 6.

Senate CNR Vote

As noted here, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that he hopes to hold a floor vote later this week on the Senate CNR bill, the Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010. Timing is critical-it would be highly beneficial to have the bill clear the Senate before recess if we hope to have a bill pass the House and be reconciled before the program authorization expires on September 30. 

Senate Enhanced FMAP Extension Vote

As many of you know, the expected Senate vote on the enhanced FMAP extension did not take place as planned last night due to issues related to the Congressional Budget Office score of the bill. However, Majority Leader Reid has now indicated that a vote will take place this coming Wednesday, August 4.

Action Step

Please contact your senators as soon as possible to ask them to contact Majority Leader Reid and urge him to bring both of these measures to a vote this week. Additionally, please urge your senators to vote in favor of both of these key priorities for children and families when the votes are held. Contact information for the offices is available here.

Thank you once again for all of your continuing work on these issues. Please contact me directly with any questions (617-275-2929, arosenthal@communitycatalyst.org).

Sincerely,

Amy Rosenthal
Project Director

 

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