pass,” John Sifton, Human Rights Watch’s Asia Advocacy director in Washington, told Reuters.

“They should publicly reaffirm that U.S. law bars direct military assistance to Thailand and outline key benchmarks Thailand needs to meet to restore the bilateral relationship to its prior condition.”

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Bangkok in August in what was the highest level visit to Thailand by a U.S. official since the coup.

Prayuth and members of his cabinet will also meet with representatives of Thai businesses in the United States during the three-day visit.

Thailand is often cited as the oldest U.S. ally in Southeast Asia and Washington has been urging the region to do more to cut funding streams to North Korea over its nuclear program.

Prior to the 2014 coup, Thailand agreed to buy fourin meeting basic needs, including the essential need for nutritious food.”

Children are recommended for the Regional Food Bank’s BackPack Program by teachers and principals who see firsthand the nutritional needs of their students.

Student Hailey Fisk, 19, left, volunteers as part of the BackPack Program at Heatly School, which provides students in need with healthy food on the weekends and school breaks. (Skip Dickstein / Times Union)

Backpacks are filled with food and discreetly distributed to kids in need the day before weekends and holidays. Each bag contains six meals — two breakfasts, three lunch/dinner entrees and an extra snack.

Two-thirds of the 300-plus students in kindergarten through 12th grade at Heatly School are eligible to receive free and reduced meals. Thanks to the BackPack Program, students there will receive 13,500