The Food for All Coalition represents a diverse group of stakeholders working together across the Mountain State to end hunger. We collectively call on West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation to publicly reject the proposed rule from the United States Department of Agriculture (FNS-2018-0037). Among other negative effects on our food safety net, this rule threatens school breakfast and lunch for K-12 students across West Virginia’s public-school system.

(Note: Senator Joe Manchin, D-WV, did publicly oppose the rule in the September 17th Charleston Gazette-Mail.)

Categorical Eligibility is a vital and effective tool in our efforts to ensure people in West Virginia do not go hungry. It reduces paperwork for working families, the elderly and our neighbors with disabilities while alleviating burdens on the state agencies administering anti-hunger programs.

Categorical Eligibility also enables nearly 1 million children across the United States the ability to access reliable breakfast and lunch at public schools through the Community Eligibility Provision. The West Virginia Office of Childhood Nutrition oversees the provision of free meals to nearly 200,000 K-12 students every year. Under the proposed rule their office estimates that 50,000 children could lose access to food at school.  

This is unacceptable and it is time for the rest of West Virginia’s Congressional Delegation to publicly say so.

Tell your members of West Virginia’s congressional delegation to publicly reject the proposed Categorical Eligibility revision rule proposed by the USDA. It is never OK to take food away from children and it is time for the rest of our members of Congress to go on the record as to where they stand on this issue today.

Please send a personal note to your member of Congress.