As the supply chain crisis continues to plague the nation, many have urged the federal government’s swift action to mitigate the issue.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) is calling upon the Biden administration to address the issue of food shortages, which he said has had a direct impact on school cafeterias in his district.
In a letter sent to President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, the congressman pointed to school systems in his district, which have resorted to requesting assistance from the private sector to ensure students are properly fed.
“I represent a poor, rural Congressional District, and for many children, school is the one place they feel safe and well-fed,” wrote Rogers. “One school system in my district, Alexander City Schools, has 65% of students enrolled in free and reduced-price meals. This same school system has had to take to social media and private industry to ask for help feeding breakfast to its students due to delayed or missing shipments.”
The letter continued, “Another school system, Sylacauga City Schools, wrote to me ‘We simply do not know from week to week what we will be getting, and after the truck arrives missing key menu items, it takes days or weeks to make other menu-compliant arrangements.’ How can this Administration sit idly by as children go hungry?”
Rogers took note of White House press secretary Jen Psaki appearing to take a dismissive posture toward the nation’s supply chain woes as she tagged the issue as being a “high class problem.” The congressman asserted that this assessment was “dead wrong.”
“The stories in Alabama’s Third District are echoed across the country, and that is unacceptable,” Rogers’ letter declared. “After the pandemic, our economy continues to struggle, and we are lagging on the global stage. Instead of focusing on radical policies and increased regulation, I urge your Administration to prioritize fixing the supply chain crisis facing our nation.”
Rogers pleaded with the administration to remove “bureaucratic hurdles” in an effort to assist schools in replenishing their food supply.
“I also urge you to focus on increased flexibility for the schools in my district. If this Administration refuses to focus on the supply chain catastrophe, at the very least please offer flexibility to USDA’s onerous restrictions. These kids need immediate action not bureaucratic hurdles from your administration,” the letter concluded.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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