Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025
Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025 - Summary **What It Does:** This bill would expand a federal food assistance program to help low-income families feed their children whenever schools close for extended periods—not just during summer vacation. Currently, the Summer EBT program provides grocery benefits to eligible families only when schools close for summer break. Under this bill, the program would also cover any school closure lasting five or more consecutive school days, including closures due to weather, remote learning, or hybrid schedules.
The daily benefit amount would increase to cover breakfast, lunch, and a snack for each day school is closed. **Who It Affects:** The bill targets low-income families with school-aged children. It also affects state agencies and tribal organizations that administer the program, as the federal government would initially cover all of their administrative costs for running the expanded program (starting at 100% in FY2026, then gradually decreasing back to 50% over several years). **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was introduced by Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) in the 119th Congress.
CRS Official Summary
Stop Child Hunger Act of 2025This bill expands the Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (Summer EBT) to include coverage during a school closure period. (Summer EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer.)Under the bill, a school closure period means a period in which an elementary school or secondary school is closed, operating remotely, or operating in a hybrid manner for five or more consecutive weekdays during a calendar year.The bill also increases the daily value of the benefit to cover the cost of breakfast, lunch, and a snack for every day school is closed.For FY2026, USDA must pay each state agency and covered tribal organization 100% of the administrative expenses (currently 50%) incurred in operating the program. The rate that USDA must pay for administrative expenses decreases each fiscal year until it reaches 50% of the expenses for FY2031 and each fiscal year thereafter.USDA must also provide grants to states to support the development or upgrading of data systems that are necessary to implement Summer EBT.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.