Make August a Month of Action to Fight Child Hunger!

Even though our economy is starting to recover, far too many families in our communities continue to struggle. According to the latest census data, the rates of reported hardship in affording food, rent, and other basic household expenses continue to be higher now than pre-pandemic times. Here in Washington, 11% of all adults living with children report that they cannot afford enough food for their household so that even their children aren’t getting enough to eat.

We cannot leave these families behind. We must take this opportunity to build a stronger future by ensuring that everyone has the essentials to thrive.

Congress has the opportunity now to strengthen our collective prosperity by ensuring that our economic recovery is an equitable one. That opportunity is a budget resolution that invests in kids, families, workers, and students. The budget resolution must include the following policy priorities:

• Universal, nutritious meals for kids year-round in order to ensure that kids have the healthy food they need to focus on learning and be active at play.
• Close the Medicaid gap to extend health care coverage for 2.2 million Americans.
• Make the expanded Child Tax Credit permanent, and by doing so, we can cut child poverty almost in half, giving more kids a better shot at reaching their full potential.
• Promote housing stability by funding housing choice vouchers.
• Pay for these investments by restoring tax rates on the wealthiest individuals and corporations to pre-2017 levels.

This may be Congress’s one opportunity to make once in a lifetime change that can improve our collective future with targeted support for those who have been furthest from opportunity. Both the House and the Senate will adjourn soon to spend August back in state to meet with constituents. Make the most of their time back home by telling them to support these priorities and pass a budget resolution for an equitable recovery.

What You Can Do