WASHINGTON – The Congressional Hunger Center honored U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) for leading passage of legislation to ensure kids have access to healthy, nutritious meals during the summer with the organization’s prestigious Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award.

As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Boozman worked with Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) to modernize U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) summer meal programs and permanently allow states flexibilities to reach more food-insecure children in need in addition to authorizing a national summer electronic benefit (EBT) program to eligible families. The pair’s measure was included in a funding package signed into law in December 2022.

“The struggle many families have putting food on the table continues beyond the school year. Senator Stabenow and I recognized USDA’s summer meal program was in desperate need of modernization and worked together to make meaningful updates so children have more opportunities to access healthy food during the summer,” Boozman said. “I’m pleased to accept this award and am committed to ensuring that our nutrition programs remain strong and accessible to Americans in their time of need.”

As a member of the Senate Hunger Caucus, Boozman is working to combat the global food security crisis. The senator is championing bipartisan legislation that creates an innovative approach to tackle the growing international challenge by leveraging private sector dollars to improve food systems.

The Congressional Hunger Center is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that works to make domestic and international hunger issues a priority to government officials and educates future leaders on ways to fight against hunger.

The Bill Emerson and Mickey Leland Hunger Leadership Award is named after Congressional leaders who spent their careers fighting hunger and poverty. Honorees are chosen for their significant contributions to combating hunger in the United States and overseas. They exemplify the determination necessary to make hunger and poverty a focal point in the United States and within Congress.