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FNCS Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the accomplishments of USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service in 2018, from common-sense flexibilities for school meal providers to the agency’s vigorous response to provide food to the victims of coast-to-coast natural disasters.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today applauded the accomplishments made by USDA over the past year. USDA has continued enacting President Trump’s goals of regulatory reform, streamlining government, and refocusing USDA to be customer oriented.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced a proposed rule intended to move more able-bodied recipients of SNAP benefits to self-sufficiency through the dignity of work.

Earlier this week, a new USDA Foods vendor delivered 2,000 gallons of fresh milk to the D.C. Capital Area Food Bank. The delivery was one of many taking place at food banks across the country resulting from purchases made by the USDA to provide market support to the dairy industry.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today empowered local schools with additional options to serve healthy and appealing meals. A final rule on school meal flexibilities, to be published later this month in the Federal Register, increases local flexibility in implementing school nutrition standards for milk, whole grains, and sodium. Secretary Perdue said the final rule will deliver on USDA's promise, made in a May 2017 proclamation, to develop forward-thinking strategies that ensure school nutrition standards are both healthful and practical.

USDA today announced that households in three California counties have been approved to receive Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits. D-SNAP will be offered in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties due to the impact of the Woolsey and Hill wildfires, and Butte County in northern California due to the Camp Fire. Households in the affected areas may be eligible if they have qualifying disaster-related expenses and meet D-SNAP income limits.

In response to devastating wildfires in California, USDA will allow participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 14 counties to buy hot foods with their benefits through Dec. 17, 2018.

To help residents, farmers and ranchers affected by hurricane Michael, USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are actively responding.

As part of the continuing effort to provide relief from the effects of Hurricane Michael, USDA today announced that households in 20 Georgia counties that may not normally be eligible for nutrition assistance under regular SNAP rules may temporarily qualify for D-SNAP benefits. Households may be eligible if they have qualifying disaster-related expenses and meet D-SNAP income limits.

USDA today announced that residents of three additional North Carolina counties -- Chatham, Durham and Gilford – will be eligible for disaster food benefits through USDA’s Disaster SNAP. President Trump extended the disaster declaration for these three counties as part of ongoing federal efforts to support Americans impacted by Hurricane Florence in September.

As part of a continuing effort to provide relief from the effects of Hurricane Michael, the USDA announced today that households in 12 Florida counties that may not normally be eligible for nutrition assistance under regular SNAP rules may temporarily qualify for D-SNAP benefits. Households may be eligible if they have qualifying disaster-related expenses and meet D-SNAP income limits.

To provide relief from the impacts of Hurricane Michael, FNS will allow participants in the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 23 Georgia counties to buy hot foods with their benefits through Nov. 17, 2018.

Households impacted by Hurricane Michael in 12 Florida counties could be eligible for mass replacement of SNAP benefits, USDA announced. This is one of several steps USDA is taking to ensure Floridians in need have the means to purchase food.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, USDA approved a temporary waiver that will allow participants in the USDA’s SNAP in Florida to buy hot foods with their benefits through Oct. 31, 2018.

Households impacted by Hurricane Florence in South Carolina could be eligible for mass replacement of SNAP benefits. This is one of many recent steps USDA has taken to ensure North and South Carolinians in need have food to eat.

FNS today announced a $2-million cooperative agreement with the Johns Hopkins University to conduct an in-depth, practicable evaluation of local agencies’ strategies to improve services provided by the WIC program.

North Carolina residents recovering from Hurricane Florence could be eligible for disaster food benefits through the availability of USDA’s Disaster SNAP.

Secretary Sonny Perdue yesterday hosted a roundtable with local school officials to learn more about how USDA can best assist and enable their efforts to serve nutritious meals to our nation’s children.

As Hurricane Florence approached, Secretary Sonny Perdue directed the USDA to use all available authorities to ensure the security and safety of those in the path of the storm, and to aid victims in their recovery efforts.

USDA today announced $5 million of investments in customer service projects to improve and modernize application processing in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.