PORTLAND, Maine - Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree is among a group of members of Congress who say they fear pending changes to federal childhood nutrition programs would make it harder for children to get access to good food.
Pingree and more than 100 other members of Congress are concerned about the Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016. A House of Representatives committee passed the bill Wednesday.
Pingree says proposed changes to the school meals verification process and other programs would cause low-income children to lose access to healthy meals.
She also questions a school meals block grant pilot program that she fears would imperil school nutrition programs' ability to provide children with good food.
Congressmen concerned about the bill also say it would allow junk food as an acceptable snack.