Congress’ policy for feeding hungry kids during the summer is straight out of the ’60s, and “The Dude” does not abide.  

Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges sat down with Senate Agriculture Committee lawmakers on Wednesday to talk about improving the federally funded Summer Food Service Program “not only for moral reasons, but for patriotic reasons.” “You know we can’t have a strong country if we don’t have healthy kids,” Bridges told Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and ranking member Debbie Stabenow. D-Mich., who are mulling the reauthorization of child nutrition programs. He suggested adopting a “meals on wheels” model to improve access to nutrition for kids in rural communities and reservations during summer months.  

Bridges has been fighting hunger for decades , trying to connect low-income families to healthy food. Congress often disappoints, said “The Big Lebowski” star, but the bipartisan mood of the Russell Senate Office roundtable gave him hope. The No Kid Hungry campaign spokesman felt cheerful enough after the event to strike a “prom pose” with Stabenow for photographers.  

“There are a lot of talented people. But only some who decide to take their celebrity — the capital they have — and really put it forward for things that are meaningful that change peoples’ lives,” said a star-struck Stabenow.