We just took an exciting step forward in protecting national service and the health of our nation’s kids. Congress has signed into law a bipartisan spending bill for the 2018 federal fiscal year, and while the bill as a whole is a mixed bag, it does include wins for national service and healthy-food education—progress that your voices helped make happen.
We just took an exciting step forward in protecting national service and the health of our nation’s kids. Congress has signed into law a bipartisan spending bill for the 2018 federal fiscal year, and while the bill as a whole is a mixed bag, it does include wins for national service and healthy-food education—progress that your voices helped make happen.
The spending bill brings funding for the first time to the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program, which FoodCorps helped to establish as part of the 2014 Farm Bill, and has brought to life through several years of appropriations advocacy.
The spending bill brings funding for the first time to the Food and Agriculture Service Learning Program, which FoodCorps helped to establish over several years of advocacy in the 2014 Farm Bill. This program will provide much-needed funds for initiatives that deliver hands-on nutrition and food education, promote farm to school programs, and improve school food environments to help kids grow up healthy—programs like FoodCorps. We will now turn our advocacy attention to USDA to help ensure that the program is designed and implemented as effectively as possible.
Despite the president’s budget proposing the elimination of all funding for national service, bipartisanship prevailed: the spending bill not only protected funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service, but also boosted it—by $34 million. That includes significant expansion for AmeriCorps—the service program that fuels programs like FoodCorps. We’re proud to participate in the advocacy efforts led by our allies at Voices for National Service.
We could not make these important strides without the support and advocacy of people like you. Thanks to all who wrote letters, sent emails, and tweets, and made phone calls in favor of these efforts. Your support for healthy schools and national service are more important than ever. Know that your voice matters.
Will you help us keep up the momentum? Share the news on Facebook and Twitter, and—if you haven’t already—text FOODCORPS to 52886 to sign up for our action alerts. Already signed up? Ask two friends to join, in honor of these two big steps we’ve taken to a healthy future for our nation’s kids.
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