Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry is scheduled to mark up a bill reauthorizing the nation’s child nutrition programs.

Currently, free lunches are available to families with incomes up to 130% of the poverty level. Students from families with incomes up to 185% of the poverty level qualify for reduced-priced meals, which cost up to 40 cents each.

The Senate budget resolution (S. Con. Res. 95) would allow an additional $842 million over five years to expand eligibility for the free lunch category to families earning up to 140 % of the federal poverty level and eliminate the 40-cents meals.

While senators are hoping to authorize an expansion, the House and Senate have not yet agreed on a compromise budget resolution. Therefore, the committee is likely to work only within the $232 million allotted to continue programs set to expire this year.

The House on March 24 passed legislation (HR 3873) to reauthorize and revise various provisions in the main school lunch programs. The bill does not contain language to expand program eligibility. However, it does try to increase participation in the free and reduced price lunch plans by providing direct certification for food stamp and welfare recipients and allowing parents to submit a single application for more than one child.

Both the House and Senate passed legislation (S 2241) in March (when it was set to end) extending the program until the end of June.

Both Republicans and Democrats have proposed eliminating the reduced-price category, arguing that 40 cents is more than poor families can afford. Senator Dole (R-North Carolina) has proposed legislation to expand free-lunch eligibility to 185% of the poverty level over five years.