March 14—The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that under current law, funding for child nutrition programs is projected to grow from $20 billion in 2013 to $29 billion in 2023.
“That rise largely reflects projected increases in food prices and thus the cost per meal, although the number of meals served by those programs is also expected to grow,” Emily Stern, an analyst in the Congressional Budget Office’s Budget Analysis Division, wrote on the CBO website.
The School Breakfast Program is expected to grow the fastest—from $3.5 billion to $6.3 billion—because the CBO expects more schools will participate and implement policies that make it easier for children to participate, Ms. Stern wrote.