U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Banks and Community Partners: $4 billion is provided to USDA, of which $3.6 billion is allocated to be used at the USDA’s Secretary’s discretion to support the food supply chain, including purchasing food and agricultural commodities; making grants and loans for small to mid-sized processors, seafood processing facilities, farmers markets, producers and other organizations to respond to COVID-19.
SNAP: Extends SNAP maximum benefits by 15 percent through September 30, 2021; and provides $1.1 billion in administrative funding distributed to all states to address increased caseloads and demands for food assistance. The legislation also provides $25 million to improve and modernize States’ SNAP online purchase pilot programs.
WIC: $800 million in additional funding is provided to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program and the legislation also temporarily boosts the value of WIC Cash Value Vouchers for vulnerable mothers and their children.
Senior Nutrition: $37 million in additional funding is provided to USDA’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program to improve the health and nutrition of low-income Americans at least 60 years old in age through access to nutritious food.
Youth Nutrition: $5 billion was approved to maintain and expand the Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program so that low-income families have access to school meals and food assistance during both the school year and summer months during a federally declared public health emergency designation.
Nutrition for the Homeless: Temporarily expands access to USDA’s Child and Adult Care 3 Food Program (CACFP) so that young adults under 25 years of age at emergency homeless shelters are eligible for needed nutrition support.