Tag: Federal legislation

In 2020, the Older Americans Act (OAA) Nutrition Program provided over 147 million home-delivered meals and nearly 74 million congregate meals to seniors across the country. This widespread federal support for senior nutrition was established by amendments to the Older Americans Act in 1972, not the original 1965 legislation.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, almost 30 million children relied on school meals daily, highlighting a persistent need for robust food security initiatives. This background is vital for understanding what is the Healthy Meals Act, which is not a single law but rather a collection of legislative efforts to modernize and strengthen child nutrition programs.

Although the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 expired on September 30, 2015, the core child nutrition programs it supported continue to operate today. This continuation is made possible through ongoing annual appropriations by Congress, rather than a single new authorizing law.