Congressman Cohen Says Lee Plan to Feed Children is Inadequate

MEMPHIS – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), who asked Governor Bill Lee to reconsider a decision not to participate a summer food program for children then released a statement saying his decision was “cruel,” tonight condemned the inadequate alternative summer food program the governor has proposed.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“At first, the decision to leave $75 million in federal funds on the table that could have reached nearly 700,000 Tennessee children seemed like ineptitude. Then, when the intention was clear, it seemed like cruelty. The proposed alternative -- $3 million in funding for summer food programs in 15 rural, deeply Republican counties -- is clearly inadequate and doubles down on the cruelty to children in Shelby, Davidson and Hamilton counties where the vast majority of needy children live. I hope that this careless and shortsighted policy will be reversed and that our children, who are neither Democrats nor Republicans, get the nutrition they need from the federal summer food program.

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