And once physical growth and cognitive development are impaired, the damage can be irreversible. Children may carry this damage throughout their schooling and into the workforce. It makes no sense to let this occur. Hunger is morally offensive and economically unwise. Right now, federal nutrition programs precisely pinpoint people who need help.
Kids have to qualify for food, but once they do, they get it.
Proposals now before Congress would change this. Funding cuts and block grants would remove access to federal food programs for millions of poor children. In their place, fifty different programs would be set up, one in each state . Poor children would be lopped off programs in every state. Kids would lose.