Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall has threatened to block a bipartisan effort to fund school lunch programs because of a Biden administration policy banning discrimination against LGBTQ+ students in any program that receives federal nutrition money, which includes most school lunch programs.
The guidance, issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), requires school administrators to submit policies for combating discrimination against LGBTQ+ students.
Marshall told reporters he is "contemplating" objecting to the measure, adding that he is "just afraid that schools in Kansas won’t have school lunches because of this administration’s radical view on transgender issues."
Marshall went further, saying that he is "afraid that they’re going to raid the school lunch program over that issue.”
However, these concerns are not founded in reality, according to a USDA official who told Politico that the administration would not pull funding from school lunch programs because of laws barring transgender children from playing sports or accessing bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity.
The official stressed that individuals could only file complaints if they've been discriminated by the school lunch program based on their gender identity.
Democrats are trying to swiftly pass the legislation before funding expires on June 30 but even just a single vote of opposition could delay the effort – and cause millions of children around the nation to go hungry.
Many have criticized Marshall in light of the news.
\u201cKS own Roger Marshall trying to block kids from school lunch programs because the bill includes anti discrimination language against LBGTQ. So the Pro Life party doesn\u2019t care if kids starve if they can\u2019t discriminate against LBGTQ. It\u2019s disgusting just like him!\u201d— gretaCgarbo (@gretaCgarbo) 1655955604
\u201cU.S. Sen. Roger Marshall is threatening to block school lunch funding across the country unless the USDA anti-discrimination policy is repealed.\n\nHe is willing to starve all school children if he and others are not allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ kids\u201d— Danielle \ud83d\ude37\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Danielle \ud83d\ude37\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1656083323
\u201cThe epitome of discrimination ----> Senator Roger Marshall (R-KY) said this week that he is considering holding school lunch programs hostage because he doesn\u2019t agree with new federal guidance banning discrimination against LGBTQ+ students.\nhttps://t.co/nqIB1XJG1Q\u201d— Rainbow Youth Project (@Rainbow Youth Project) 1656095514
\u201cRepublicans want to starve impoverished American children if they're not allowed to discriminate\n\nA block by Marshall, or any other GOP Senator, would result in increased hunger for millions of children.\n\n#America\n---\nMiranda Kyrie Jeffrey Roger Marshall\nhttps://t.co/4mBQAWBBgQ\u201d— Calliope Lintwig (@Calliope Lintwig) 1656023317
\u201cThe party of hate. That's all it is now. The party of hate. https://t.co/ymTrPT1Hvf\u201d— Jimmy Malone, Liberal & Ultra-Masker (@Jimmy Malone, Liberal & Ultra-Masker) 1656026955
\u201cThe Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall is trying to block federal school lunch funds for all students nationwide.\n\nHe represents Republicans who don't want to feed trans children and will hurt all children to get their way. https://t.co/RzTqtiRorF\u201d— \ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd88 (@\ud835\udd8e\ud835\udd98\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd88) 1655940969
\u201cBlocking a federal food program for hungry children and saying your doing it to protect food programs for school children is backwards and makes no sense. Roger Marshall puts school lunch money at stake in the GOP crusade against LGBT kids https://t.co/0ploYM5i4z #kansas @USDA\u201d— mara rose williams (@mara rose williams) 1656028228
\u201cEvery position this blowhard takes is cruel and willfully ignorant. He shames Kansas.\u201d— Glo Goodwin (@Glo Goodwin) 1656076275
\u201cAs a Kansan originally it is my solemn duty to firmly disavow Roger Marshall every time he speaks. His latest stunt blocking the school lunch bill is laced in bigotry and mean spiritedness.\u201d— RedhairedMere (@RedhairedMere) 1655946088
\u201cthis guy is an embarrassment to Kansas. he supported the January 6th coup attempt, and fesses to liking discrimination. \n\nRoger Marshall puts school lunch money at stake in the GOP crusade against LGBT kids \nhttps://t.co/npNCp8KVNv\u201d— Marijuana Honey Badger \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 0824 (@Marijuana Honey Badger \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 0824) 1656024599
Marshall has faced considerable pushback in his own state as a result of his remarks.
The editorial board of The Kansas City Star repudiated Marshall, writing that "Taking food out of the mouths of poor and hungry children would represent a new low for heartless Republicans like Roger Marshall."
The board stressed that the discrimination Marshall is sanctioning is "wrong," adding that "Blocking a program that feeds children" is detestable. Doing it for political reasons is disgusting."
Marshall has a reputation as one of the more hardline conservatives in Congress, regularly promoting COVID-19 conspiracy theories and serving as one of former President Donald Trump's surrogates by backing the "Big Lie" and openly supporting efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
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