WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT. MILLIONS OF FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WORKING A JOB, A SECOND JOB, OR SOMETIMES A SIDE HUSTLE AND STILL NOT ABLE TO COVER BASIC COSTS. HER ORGANIZATION IS TRACKING HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE FEELING THE PINCH TO LEARN WHY WE WANT THIS SOLID DATA IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE ACTION, THE SOLUTIONS THEY’VE DISCOVERED TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN OF EVERYDAY EXPENSES. PLUS, MY KITCHEN STAFF IS 100% IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING HERSELF AND MOST OF THEM ARE WOMEN MOMS. HOW HER JOURNEY FROM JAPAN TO NFL CHEERLEADER TO AWARD WINNING CHEF IS INFLUENCING HER KITCHEN AND HER MENU. BUT FIRST, CLIMATE CHANGE CAN BRING US BACK TO THAT MIDDLE TO WORK ON THINGS LOOKING FOR COMMON GROUND ON CLIMATE CHANGE. THE MIDDLE OFTEN RECOGNIZES IF IT MAKES SENSE ECONOMICALLY, IT MAKES SENSE ENVIRONMENTALLY. THE EFFORT TO CARVE A PATH FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL PARTY. THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP’S CABINET PICKS ARE GIVING US A WINDOW INTO HIS UPCOMING TERM THAT INCLUDES HIS DIRECTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY POLICY. HE’S TAPPING FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN LEE ZELDIN TO LEAD THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AN AGENCY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON AND HE’S CHOSEN CHRIS WRIGHT FOR ENERGY. SECRETARY WRIGHT IS CEO OF LIBERTY ENERGY, ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S TOP OIL AND GAS FIRMS. TRUMP HAS PROMISED DEREGULATION TO UNLEASH THE POWER OF AMERICAN BUSINESS AND AN INCREASE IN OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION. BUT THAT PLAN HAS ENVIRONMENTALISTS, INCLUDING CONSERVATIVE ENVIRONMENTALISTS, CONCERNED. ACCORDING TO PEW RESEARCH CENTER, ABOUT 12% OF REPUBLICANS AND FOLKS WHO LEAN REPUBLICAN THINK DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE PRESIDENT AND FOR CONGRESS. OUR CORRESPONDENT DINA DEMETRIOS INTRODUCES US TO SOME OF THEM. I DO KNOW PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES THAT ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE CLIMATE. SO I’M HOPING THAT MAYBE BE A UNIFYING ISSUE. YEAH, WE HAVE TO FIND THOSE, DON’T WE? THE UPHILL SCRAMBLE BY ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO ENACT CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES HAS BEEN AN EVEN STEEPER CHALLENGE FOR CONSERVATIVES WITHIN THE MOVEMENT. PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO BE BLAMED FOR SOMETHING, AND THAT’S SOMETHING THAT I HEAR A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES TALK ABOUT, LIKE, WHY? WHY AM I BEING BLAMED FOR CLIMATE CHANGE? IN THE WAKE OF REPUBLICANS WINNING THE NATIONAL ELECTION, MEMBERS OF FOUR CHAPTERS OF CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY GATHER IN A REDWOOD GROVE IN NORTH ORANGE COUNTY TO REASSESS AND RECOMMIT. CCL IS A GLOBAL NONPARTIZAN ORGANIZATION WORKING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADVANCE CLIMATE FRIENDLY POLICIES. REMEMBER, CLIMATE WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LONG TERM COMMITMENT. NO SINGLE ELECTION OUTCOME WILL SOLVE THE ISSUE. DISSOLVE OUR COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. I HAVE A FEAR THAT IT MAY BE DISMANTLED FROM WHAT WE KNOW IT AS TODAY. DOMINIC BENDINELLI IS A LIFELONG CONSERVATIVE IN CCL. THE BEST STRATEGY GOING FORWARD IS TO FOCUS ON ECONOMICS BECAUSE THERE IS AN ECONOMIC CASE TO BE MADE FOR A LOT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY POLICIES THAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE DONE. HE MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES IN BOTH PARTIES ABOUT CLIMATE BILLS WITH A STRONG ECONOMIC BENT. ONE RELAXES THE MULTIYEAR PERMITTING PROCESS FOR ALL TYPES OF ENERGY PROJECTS, BOTH GREEN ONES AND FOSSIL FUELS. WE WOULD PROBABLY PREFER TO HAVE ONLY CLEAN ENERGY, PERMITING MOVE FORWARD IN A QUICKER WAY, BUT IN ORDER TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE, WE HAVE TO EXPAND WHAT WE’RE OKAY WITH IN ORDER TO GET OUR PRIORITIES MOVED FORWARD. WE SEE THE ECONOMICS KIND OF TAKING OVER FROM THERE AND MAKING IT CLEAN. ENERGY BEING THE CLEAR CHOICE OF WHAT YOU’D WANT TO BUILD. ANOTHER BIPARTISAN EFFORT IN CONGRESS HAS BEEN THE PROVED ACT THAT COULD HELP LOWER EMISSIONS BASED TARIFFS PLANNED BY EUROPE AND CHINA. IN FACT, A FAVORITE PROPOSAL FOR CLIMATE CONSERVATIVES IS A U.S. CARBON TAX. BUT THAT IDEA HAS HAD LITTLE SUCCESS IN CONGRESS. SO THEY’RE PURSUING ANOTHER OPTION. WE HAVE SOME STRONG REPUBLICANS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HERE IN ORANGE COUNTY THAT ARE NOW ADVOCATING, CHAMPIONING GEOTHERMAL, THAT WE COULD USE THE POWER OF OUR FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY TO DRILL DOWN, BRING HOT LIQUID UP, AND TURN A TURBINE. CRAIG PRESTON IS CONSERVATIVE OUTREACH ACTION CHAIR, STRIVING TO MAKE THE CLIMATE A HIGHER PRIORITY IN REPUBLICAN CIRCLES. WHEN I TALK TO MY FRIENDS THAT ARE SO CONCERNED ABOUT IMMIGRANTS COMING IN, I GO, I’M CONCERNED TOO. HOWEVER, WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, IT’S GOING TO GET WORSE IF WE DON’T ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE THAT CAN’T LIVE WHERE THEY USED TO LIVE BECAUSE OF DROUGHT OR EXTREME WEATHER. SO I’M SUPPORTIVE OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE ACROSS THE BOARD. FIX THE BORDER, BUT ALSO BEING AWARE THAT IF WE DON’T ADDRESS CLIMATE, WE’RE GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE PRESSURE ON OUR BORDER. AND DOES THAT RESONATE WITH THEM? IT KEEPS THE CONVERSATION GOING LONGER AND THAT’S MY GOAL, IS TO SHOW THAT I’M NOT THERE TO FIGHT THEM OR ARGUE WITH THEM. I’M THERE TO FIND SHARED VALUES SO THAT WE CAN FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD WORK. IT’S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO SORT OF HELP MOVE THE RIGHT CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE. WHAT I’M TRYING TO DO IS EVEN ANCHOR THEM IN THE MIDDLE THAT WE WOULDN’T LOSE SIGHT OF COMPROMISE DISCUSSION. BUT THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION IS ALREADY THREATENING REPEAL OF THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. AND ITS $800 BILLION IN CLIMATE INITIATIVES IN 2022, NO REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT, BUT 80% OF ITS JOB CREATING GREEN PROJECTS HAVE BOOSTED REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS. SO THAT’S WHAT GIVES ME HOPE. MEANWHILE, ACTIVISTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE NOW FOCUSED ON PROGRESS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. THE CLIMATE ACTION PLANS AT BOTH THE COUNTY LEVEL AND THE CITY LEVEL ARE GOING. THEY’RE DEVELOPING IN A VERY GOOD WAY. THEY GENERALLY TOUCH ON ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, PROTECTION OF OF NATURAL RESOURCES, WATER AND WASTE. AND WHILE BENDINELLI SAYS HE DOESN’T SUPPORT THE CURRENT DIRECTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HE’S NOT ABANDONING HIS CONSERVATIVE ROOTS. SO I THINK IT’S SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO DO MORE OF TO SPEAK UP ON THE ISSUE AND TO GET MY FELLOW REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES TO SPEAK UP ON THIS AS WELL, BECAUSE WE NEED EVERYONE ON BOARD TO TO SOLVE CLIMATE CHANGE, CLIMATE CHANGE IS A WAY THAT DEMOCRACY CAN WORK, AND IT CAN BRING US BACK TO THAT MIDDLE TO WORK ON THINGS THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY. THE SOLUTIONS ARE THERE THAT BENEFITS THE WHOLE POPULATION IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, I’M DINA DEMETRIUS, FOR MATTER OF FACT. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, YOU HAVE A JOB AND A PLACE TO STAY, BUT ARE STILL SCRAPING TO GET BY. YOU’RE NOT ALONE. 42% OF HOUSEHOLDS DON’T EARN ENOUGH TO JUST AFFORD THAT BASIC SURVIVAL BUDGET. ONE ORGANIZATION’S EFFORT TO BUILD A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE OF WHAT IT ACTUALLY COSTS TO LIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, PLUS MILLIONS OF KIDS RELY ON FREE OR DISCOUNTED MEALS AT SCHOOL WHILE THEIR FAMILIES WERE STILL GETTING HIT WITH EXTRA FEES. AND HER PATH TO CULINARY SUCCESS IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER. WE’RE GOING TO TELL YOU HOW THIS FORMER NFL CHEERLEADER BECAME AN AWARD WINNING CHEF. YOU’RE WATCHING, MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. IT’S A PARADOX IMPACTING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. THE ECONOMY IS DOING WELL, BUT MANY PEOPLE SAY THAT’S NOT HOW IT FEELS. WE KNOW THAT THIS WAS A HUGE FACTOR IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN EXIT POLLS, MORE VOTERS SAID THEY’RE WORSE OFF FINANCIALLY NOW THAN THEY WERE FOUR YEARS AGO. THE MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO FELT THAT WAY, 8 IN 10, BACKED PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP. IT’S HARD TO QUANTIFY THE ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS THAT PEOPLE FACE, BUT ONE MEASUREMENT IS GAINING ATTENTION. IT’S CALLED ALICE ASSET LIMITED. INCOME CONSTRAINED, EMPLOYED. SO BASICALLY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS BUT ARE FINDING IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET UNITED FOR ALICE WAS FOUNDED BY THE UNITED WAY OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY TO BETTER TRACK AND RESEARCH. ALICE HOUSEHOLDS, IT FOUND A WHOPPING 42% OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS WERE EITHER IN POVERTY OR QUALIFIED AS BELOW THE ALICE THRESHOLD. STEPHANIE HOOPES IS THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR FOR UNITED FOR ALICE. IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. CAN YOU EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ALICE HOUSEHOLD? IT’S THOSE FOLKS WHO WORK IN JOBS THAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY RUNNING. AND YET AREN’T EARNING ENOUGH TO COVER THOSE BASIC HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES. OUR BUDGET, WE CALL THE ALICE HOUSEHOLD SURVIVAL BUDGET INCLUDES JUST THE BARE MINIMUM OF HOUSING, CHILDCARE, FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH CARE, SMARTPHONE AND ALICE PAYS TAXES. SO WE CALCULATE THAT FOR EVERY COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY AND FIND THAT IN EVERY COUNTY WE HAVE JOBS THAT AREN’T PAYING ENOUGH TO MEET THOSE BASIC EXPENSES. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CAUSES OF THIS FINANCIAL STRAIN ON THOSE ALICE WORKERS? ALICE IS SUPER FRUSTRATED THAT THEY’RE HEARING THAT INFLATION IS IS DOWN AND YET HIGH COSTS ARE STAYING HIGH. ALICE IS GETTING A WAGE INCREASE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME. BUT THE COST OF HOUSING, THE COST OF FOOD, CHILDCARE, HEALTH CARE IS INCREASING EVEN FASTER. A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN ALICE ACTUALLY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS SOME OF THAT FEDERAL MONEY THAT YOU WOULD GET IF YOU WERE BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. SO HOW DO WE SEE THE IMPACT ON THESE? ALICE FAMILIES? HOW DOES IT SHOW ITSELF? SO MANY FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING, NOT MAKING ENDS MEET DON’T QUALIFY FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE, FOOD ASSISTANCE, SOME OF THOSE BASIC PROGRAMS. SO WE OFTEN SEE THEM AT THE FOOD PANTRY AND PLACES WHERE THEY DON’T ASK YOUR INCOME ELIGIBILITY AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO LIVE FURTHER AWAY FROM YOUR JOB, OR YOU LIVE IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING UNITS. CHOOSING BETWEEN FOOD ON THE TABLE OR MEDICINE FOR THEIR PARENTS, CHOOSING BETWEEN PAYING THE UTILITY BILL AND THEIR CAR INSURANCE. SO HOW DOES ALICE CORRELATE WITH THE THE POVERTY RATE? SO REALLY INTERESTING OVER THE LAST DECADE PLUS, WE SEE THE POVERTY LINE IS ACTUALLY PRETTY FLAT. AND YET THE NUMBER OF ALICE HOUSEHOLDS CONTINUES TO TICK UP. SO THAT’S THROUGH ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS. UPTURNS REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS. WHAT WE’RE CURRENTLY DOING IS NOT ENOUGH TO CHANGE THAT TRAJECTORY. AND ALICE WAS ARTICULATE DURING THE ELECTION. AND VOICED FRUSTRATION WITH THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND LOOKING FOR CHANGE. SO THOSE SOLUTIONS THAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT, THE AWARENESS ALL NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO BIGGER ACTION. SO PART OF OUR GOAL AT UNITED FOR ALICE IS TO MAKE ALICE THE STANDARD MEASURE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. AND WE THINK IT COULD WORK VERY WELL IN NEXT TO THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. BUT PROVIDES A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHERE YOU SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOLUTIONS. SO, SO MANY CREATIVE THINGS ARE HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I’LL SHARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE EXAMPLES IN HAWAII, THE GOVERNOR HAS A PROGRAM WHERE ALICE HOUSEHOLDS CAN GET SOLAR PANELS, AND THAT REDUCES THEIR ENERGY BILL AND IS BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. WE SEE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN DIFFERENT STATES MAKING SURE THAT THEIR PROGRAMS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALICE. THERE ARE LOWER COST AND THEY’RE MORE DIRECTLY LINKED TO HIGHER PAYING JOBS. ALICE, FAMILIES NEED CHILDCARE SO THE PARENTS CAN WORK, BUT MANY CHILDCARE PROVIDERS ARE ALICE SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER SYSTEM, MORE MONEY IN THERE. AND WE’VE SEEN SOME AMAZING FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTING BOTH THOSE WORKERS AND THE FAMILIES. I HOPE THOSE EXAMPLES HELP PEOPLE SEE THAT IT CAN COME FROM ALL DIFFERENT ANGLES. WE DON’T JUST NEED TO RELY ON ON OUR GOVERNMENT. STEPHANIE HOOPES FROM UNITED FOR ALICE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. THANK YOU. COMING UP, HER CAREER AS AN NFL CHEERLEADER WAS SIDELINED BY INJURY. I ALWAYS WANTED TO INTRODUCE SOME SIDE OF MY CULTURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT. HOW THAT LED TO A DREAM JOB AS AN AWARD WINNING CHEF. PLUS, WHY MILLIONS OF FAMILIES COULD SOON BE GETTING A BREAK FROM SCHOOL LUNCH FEES. MASAKO MORISHITA IS LIVING HER OWN AMERICAN DREAM. BORN IN JAPAN, SHE IS NOW AN AWARD WINNING CHEF IN WASHINGTON, DC. SHE CALLS HER STYLE JAPANESE COMFORT FOOD WITH A TWIST. IT’S NOT THE USUAL RAMEN OR SUSHI, BUT JAPANESE CURRIES, BURGERS AND PANCAKES. LIKE WHAT SHE ATE AS A KID. MORISHITA CAREER PATH IS ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY. COOKING WASN’T PART OF HER PLAN. SHE SHARES HER STORY IN HER OWN WORDS AND THE WINNER IS MASAKO MORISHITA. THIS IS MY WILDEST AMERICAN DREAM CAME TRUE. MY NAME IS MASAKO MORISHITA. I’M THE EXECUTIVE CHEF OF PERRY’S RESTAURANT IN WASHINGTON, DC. MY FAMILY HAS A LITTLE BAR AND RESTAURANT IN KOBE, JAPAN FOR CLOSE TO 100 YEARS. I DIDN’T HAVE ANY FORMAL TRAINING. ALL THE TRAINING I HAD WAS BY MY MOM. SO INCREDIBLE. I MEAN, SHE’S COME A LONG WAY SINCE BEING A CHEERLEADING COACH. I STARTED DANCING WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD. THE NFL CHEERLEADER DOES TRIPS ALL OVER THE WORLD TO VISIT TROOPS OVERSEAS. THEY CAME TO OUR AREA AND SINCE THEN I HAD THIS LIKE IN MY HEART, SOMEDAY I WANT TO BE LIKE THEM. ONE DAY I JUST DECIDED TO COME TO DC AND TRY IT OUT FOR THE COMMANDERS. I STILL DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT I MADE A TEAM. FOR SOME REASON. I WAS THE FIRST OVERSEA PERSON TO BECOME A CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM. TOWARDS THE END OF THE CAREER, I HAD A REALLY BAD INJURY AND I KNEW IN MY HEART I CAN’T DO THIS FOREVER. BUT I ALWAYS WANTED TO INTRODUCE SOME SIDE OF MY CULTURE THAT PEOPLE REALLY DON’T KNOW ABOUT, AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY COOKING. AND THEN AFTER I RETIRED DANCING, I STARTED DOING MY OWN POP UP. I STARTED WORKING FOR PERRY’S 2022. PERRY’S HAS BEEN HERE FOR 40 YEARS. IT’S A HUGE INSTITUTION. I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN CHEF. THEY HAD MY BASE IS JAPANESE COMFORT FOOD, WHICH JAPANESE MOM HAS BEEN COOKING FOR CENTURIES WITH LOVE FOR THEIR FAMILY. RIGHT HERE. I WAS NOMINATED AS A FINALIST FOR JAMES BEARD AWARD IN APRIL 2024. WHEN I HEARD MY NAME, I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IN THIS. LIKE INDUSTRY, IT’S PRETTY MUCH STILL MAN DOMINATED. IT WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME AS AN IMMIGRANT. ME BEING A WOMAN TO HAVE THIS CHEF JOB. MY KITCHEN STAFF IS 100% IMMIGRANTS, INCLUDING MYSELF AND MOST OF THEM ARE WOMEN MOMS. SO FOR ME TO, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE WORKSPACE FOR WOMEN AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, TEACH THEM TO TO BE BETTER, TO BE IN THE INDUSTRY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME. MORISHITA IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT’S AMERICAN CULINARY CORPS. THAT’S A NETWORK OF 80 U.S. CHEFS WHO PARTICIPATE IN STATE DEPARTMENT EVENTS TO ENGAGE FOREIGN DIGNITARIES, BRIDGE CULTURES, AND FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS AHEAD ON. MATTER OF FACT, THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH. HOW THE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TO CHANGE THAT FOR MILLIONS OF CHILDREN IN NEED, PLUS THE UNIQUE NEW GARDEN BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO HONOR NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER ATWELCOME BACK TO MAT JUNK FEES WILL NO LONGER BE AN ISSUE FOR MILLIONS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO DEPEND ON FREE OR REDUCED SCHOOL MEALS TO FEED THEIR CHILDREN. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS SET TO BAN THOSE FEES. THEY COME FROM PROCESSING COMPANIES THAT WORK WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO OFFER CASHLESS PAYMENTS. SO WHEN A KID GETS LUNCH, THOSE PROCESSING FEES ARE ADDED ON AND THE COMPANIES CHARGE ON AVERAGE, ABOUT $2 EVERY TIME MONEY IS ADDED TO A STUDENT’S LUNCH ACCOUNT. UNDER THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT, STUDENTS WHO GET REDUCED OR FREE SCHOOL MEALS SHOULD ONLY PAY 30 TO $0.40 TOTAL. BUT WITH THE PROCESSING FEES ADDED IN, FAMILIES ARE PAYING MUCH MORE. THE USDA ESTIMATES THE FEES COLLECTIVELY COST FAMILIES ABOUT $100 MILLION EACH YEAR. THE JUNK FEES BAN WOULD START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2027 2028 SCHOOL YEAR. ABOUT 30 MILLION KIDS, OR ROUGHLY 60% OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED PRICE LUNCH. STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL IS ABOUT MORE THAN THE FOUR PRESIDENTS CARVED IN GRANITE. HOW THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS HONORING THE MANY TRIBAL NATIONS WITH HISTORIC CONNECTIONS TO THE AND FINALLY, MOUNT RUSHMORE IS GETTING A NEW ADDITION. NO, NOT ANOTHER FACE. THIS IS A NEW GARDEN AT ITS ENTRANCE, THE STONE HOOPES AND ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN HONORS INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND TRADITION. THE CIRCULAR RING OF ROCKS MIRRORS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR WHEELS FOUND ALL OVER NORTH AMERICA. THESE WERE USED BY NATIVE AMERICANS FOR CEREMONIAL PURPOSES. THE SPOKES OF THIS ONE POINT IN THE DIRECTION OF SACRED SITES, INCLUDING BLACK ELK PEAK AND BEAR BUTTE IN THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA. BETWEEN THE SPOKES ARE PLANTS USED BY NATIVE AMERICANS FOR MEDICINAL AND SPIRITUAL PURPOSES. PLANTS LIKE SAGE AND ECHINACEA. THE INSTALLATION WAS FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION. A PERFECT WAY TO MARK NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANYTIME, HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV.