Blumenthal & Smith Introduce Bicameral Legislative Package to Bolster Childhood Nutrition Programs

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tina Smith (D-MN) today introduced a pair of bicameral bills aimed at improving access to nutritious meals for children in child care settings by making critical updates to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

The CACFP helps providers administer healthy meals and snacks to more than four million children nationwide. Studies have shown that children in CACFP receive meals that are nutritionally superior to those served to children in child care settings without CACFP participation. However, outdated rules and current reimbursement rates are holding back more providers from participating in the program.

The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act of 2025, sponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) in the House, makes several improvements to streamline the CACFP and ensure children are fed healthy meals throughout the day. The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act, sponsored by U.S. Representative Greg Landsman (D-OH), seeks to reduce child hunger by improving CACFP meal reimbursements for providers.

“Our measures to strengthen childhood nutrition programs are an investment in our children’s futures, their educational readiness, and working families’ success,” said Blumenthal. “The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act and the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act make much-needed updates to childhood nutrition programs that will help providers better serve children in their care. Every child in America deserves access to healthy, nutritious meals.”

“Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy and thrive regardless of their zip code or family’s income, and that starts with access to nutritious meals,” said Smith. “When kids get the healthy meals they need, they’re better able to learn, grow, and succeed. This legislation will make it easier for childcare providers to serve nutritious food and ease some of the financial strain they’re facing. It’s a smart, targeted way to reduce child hunger and support working families and the providers they rely on.”

“The Child and Adult Care Food Program helps caregivers provide healthy snacks and meals to children and vulnerable adults in their care,” said Bonamici. “CACFP is a powerful tool in the fight against hunger. Our bipartisan legislation will streamline the program's administration and help reduce barriers so more families and child care providers can participate in CACFP and so hungry kids can get an extra meal or snack. This will improve the program, reduce food insecurity, and lower the cost of care.”

“Millions of American parents rely on child care providers, and they count on them to give their children nutritious meals,” said Mackenzie. “While parents are working to provide for their families, they shouldn’t have to worry about whether their children are getting enough to eat. That’s why I’m proud to support the Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act. By eliminating red tape and embracing common sense, we can ensure that more children have access to nutritious food and that more working families have peace of mind.”

“There’s a child care crisis in this country, and we need commonsense leadership and solutions to address the challenges,” said Landsman. “By putting forward these responsible legislative solutions – that would invest real dollars in our child care providers – they’ll be able to remain open and improve the meals they serve to children every day.”

“Child care providers go above and beyond to keep children happy and healthy while hardworking parents go out and earn a living,” said American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) President Lee Saunders. “But during a time of rising food costs, too many child care providers are forced to dip into their own savings to afford healthy meals for the children in their care — that's wrong. The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act and the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act would help members of an already overstretched workforce keep more of their hard-earned paychecks and better meet the nutritional needs of our nation’s youngest learners. AFSCME thanks Sens. Blumenthal and Smith and Reps. Bonamici, Mackenzie and Landsman, respectively, for introducing this crucial legislation.”

“The National CACFP Association is grateful to Senator Blumenthal for championing the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act and Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act this Congress,” said National CACFP President and CEO, Lisa Mack. “These bills work together to provide comprehensive support for the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. The legislation includes critical provisions to improve CACFP’s ability to combat hunger among our nation’s youngest and most vulnerable populations. We thank Senator Blumenthal for pushing forward legislation that will support the success of young children, working families, small businesses, and the child care infrastructure.”

The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act of 2025 is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and U.S. Representatives Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Dina Titus (D-NV), and John Mannion (D-NY). The legislation is endorsed by 39 national organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics and YMCA of the USA— and 59 state and local organizations, including Connecticut Voices for Children and Hartford Family Child Care Educators Community. A one-page summary of the bill is available here. Full bill text is available here.

The Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act of 2025 is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Andrea Salinas (D-OR). The legislation is endorsed by more than 30 national organizations—including AFSCME, CACFP National Professional Association, and Home Grown—and 59 state and local organizations. A one-page summary of the bill is available here. Full bill text is available here.

-30-