A Week Before NYC Kids Head Back To School, Senator Gillibrand Announces Bill To Provide Free Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner To All Schoolchildren

A Week Before NYC Kids Head Back To School, Senator Gillibrand Announces Bill To Provide Free Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner To All Schoolchildren

Aug 27, 2024

Only 8 States Provide Universal School Meals: California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Vermont

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand stood at M400 High School for Environmental Studies in NYC to advocate for the passage of the Universal School Meals Program Act, which would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all schoolchildren regardless of income. The bill would also expand access to free meals over the summer and eliminate school meal debt. She was joined by NYS Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, CEO of Hunger Free America Joel Berg, Senior Executive Director of the NYCDOE Office of Food and Nutrition Services Chris Tricarico, and M400 High School for Environmental Studies staff.

"In the richest country on earth, it is unacceptable that millions of kids go hungry each day. The Universal School Meals Program Act would provide funding for free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for students who need them and slash burdensome red tape for school administrators," said Senator Gillibrand. "This bill would make our families and communities healthier and stronger, keep kids in school, and work to fight the stigma too often associated with meal programs. I'm proud that New York City is leading the charge in providing universal school meals, and I look forward to passing this critical legislation so every child in the United States has the food they need to succeed."

"Universal school meals are an idea whose time has come. Not only do universal school meals slash child hunger, they also boost educational performance. After all, to be schooled, you must be fueled - to be well-read, you must be well-fed. This proposal would particularly aid rural and suburban school districts that currently lack universal school meals. Big thanks go to Senator Gillibrand for championing this and so many other vital anti-hunger and pro-education measures," said Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, a nationwide nonprofit organization headquartered in New York.

"We cannot teach hungry children. But the reality is that there is a food insecurity crisis across our nation and here in New York one in six children confront hunger. I'm proud to carry the universal school meals bill in the New York State Assembly and that we successfully secured $135 million in our last budget to cover 86% of students. However, achieving universal school meals and combating hunger must be a national priority so I am pleased to stand with Senator Gillibrand in calling for the passage of her Universal School Meals Program Act with Representative Ilhan Omar. We are one of the wealthiest nations in the world and it is our responsibility to care for our students. This legislation will help us to do so and should be passed and funded immediately," said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.

Free school meals are associated with a variety of positive outcomes, including improved attendance rates and school performance, fewer behavioral incidents, lower suspension rates, better health outcomes, and reduced financial stress for students and families.Research shows that for every dollar spent in the United States on school food, more than two dollars are earned in human health and economic benefits annually. The return on investment in student nutrition helps support schools, kids, communities, and the economy.

The Universal School Meals Program Act would:

1. Permanently provide free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to all schoolchildren regardless of income and put an end to burdensome application paperwork that poses a barrier to enrollment in meal programs.
2. Increase the reimbursement rates for school authorities participating in the food and nutrition programs to more accurately reflect the true cost of providing meals.
3. Reduce stigma associated with meal programs by eliminating meal debt and prohibiting school food authorities from discriminating against or overtly identifying a child participating in the free meal program.
4. Expand the summer food service program and Summer EBT program by making all children eligible to participate in the programs. Currently, only communities where 50 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch can operate a summer meals program; the Universal School Meals Program Act would make all communities eligible regardless of income.

Senator Gillibrand is a longstanding champion for childhood nutrition. She leads the bipartisan MODERN WIC Act, which would make WIC benefits more accessible to low-income families by allowing them to certify and recertify for WIC services remotely. She also leads the bipartisan Summer Meals Act, which would provide meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session.

A summary of the Universal School Meals Program Act is available here.

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