Thad Cochran: “The explanation that Senator Harkin has offered with regard to this provision of the Child Nutrition and WIC…”

“The explanation that Senator Harkin has offered with regard to this provision of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 is absolutely correct and is consistent with the committee's intent. In including the amendment to Medicaid law, it was certainly not our goal or intent to allow all Medicaid information to be shared with local educational agencies. We intended to allow States to share only such limited Medicaid information that was necessary to verify eligibility in the School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs. Any interpretation to the contrary is inconsistent with the intent of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.”