Dem bill establishes kids’ weekend meals program

Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.) has unveiled legislation to establish a program, so schools and food banks can offer meals to low-income students on weekends and holidays.

Titus’s bill would create a five-year pilot program for providing food to students eligible for free or reduced lunch during the week, when school is out.

{mosads}The Nevada Democrat noted the measure comes at the same time as many schools are out for spring break. Students who rely on meals provided during the school day for sustenance consequently might not have enough to eat.

“Vacation from school should never mean hunger for children. This legislation will fill a gap in federal programming and provide funding for nutritious meals to ensure that vacation from school does not mean hunger for children,” Titus said in a statement.

The secretary of Agriculture would conduct reviews of the pilot program during and at the end of its duration.

Titus told The Hill on Friday she might run to fill retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s  (D-Nev.) seat.