04/22/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/22/2025 13:57
CARNEGIE, PA - Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) got behind the lunch counter at Quaker Valley Middle School to serve up lunch to hungry students. The Congressman also had an important conversation with Quaker Valley School District's Director of Food and Nutrition Services about the impact of the Trump Administration's cuts to federal food programs that will strip $36 million in funding from Pennsylvania alone.
"It was great getting to experience firsthand the hard work that our school cafeteria workers do every day. Our kids can't learn on any empty stomach, and students should be able to get healthy, locally-grown foods at school," said Congressman Deluzio. "My visit to Quaker Valley Middle School's cafeteria today made one thing clear: with grocery prices still sky high, it makes zero sense for the federal government to be slashing funding for student food programs. It's bad for schools, bad for students, bad for farmers, and definitely won't make this country healthier. I'll keep standing up for our kids, schools, food banks, and local farmers-I won't stop fighting back against these harmful cuts."
Last month, the Trump Administration's U.S. Department of Agriculture cut $1 billion for schools and food banks to purchase food from local farmers and producers. This includes $660 million cut from the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, and $500 million for the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program. Pennsylvania alone was expecting to receive $35.9 million from these programs in 2025, and that funding has now disappeared unless the Administration reverses course.
Today's Taco Tuesdaylunch featured Pennsylvania-raised fresh ground beef, which Quaker Valley School District (QVSD) acquired at half-price due to a producer subsidy from the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program. That financing is now uncertain, potentially raising costs for QVSD.
QVSD serves 1,100 students daily in Pittsburgh's suburban West Hills. 21% of the students receive free and reduced-price lunch. The district's food program already operates on break-even basis. Cuts to federal food programs, on top of already-low federal reimbursement rates, could force cost-cutting that could significantly reduce the health and quality of the food served to students.
According to a 2025 survey by the School Nutrition Association, virtually all school meal program directors cited challenges with the cost of food (97.9%), and 92.1% expressed concern about their program's financial sustainability three years from now.
Photos from the event are available for use by the press here.
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