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In the letter, led by Civil Rights and Human Services subcommittee Chair Suzanne Bonamici, (D-Ore.) lawmakers expressed their concerns with how the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization will affect students.

Drawing on lessons from the coronavirus pandemic, the measure — drafted by Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.), chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), the Civil Rights/Human Services subcommittee chair — would make it easier for the USDA to respond to emergencies, giving it authority to lift onerous requirements in times of crisis.

"It's hard for students to learn when they are hungry," Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Democrat who introduced the legislation with Scott, said in a statement. "By updating the child nutrition laws, Congress can get children the healthy meals they need to learn and grow," she said.