Policy Update: Status of FY21 Appropriations and Coronavirus Relief
The House passed a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY2021 last week which is expected to pass the Senate today and be signed into law by the President hours before the fiscal year officially ends at midnight tonight — September 30, 2020. The CR, which passed the House by a vote of 359 to 57, includes a bipartisan compromise that provides supplemental funding to assist farmers as well as resources to enhance several child nutrition provisions. The compromise agreement provides nearly $8 billion for two nutrition provisions that are essential to feeding children and families during the COVID-19 pandemic: Pandemic EBT which is funded and extended through the end of the current school year; and Child Nutrition Waivers, which provides the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) with the authority and funding to extend school meal waivers for schools and community organizations providing meals to students and families. The CR removes the last roadblock to USDA extending these waivers through the end of the current school year. Other than the nutrition provision, appropriations for education-related programs including the 21st Century Community Learning Center program are maintained at fiscal year (FY) 2020 levels through December 11, 2020.