Murphy, Hayes, 31 Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Student Food Security Act To Address Food Insecurity Among College Students

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and U.S. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.-05)joined 31 other members of Congress in reintroducing the Student Food Security Act of 2024, bicameral legislation to address food insecurity faced by college students across America.

College students often face strict limits on their ability to access and use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits unless they meet certain conditions, such as working more than 20 hours per week or having young children. These barriers ignore the reality of the college student population, a majority of whom are students older than 25 and independent from their parents who are often juggling school, work, and family responsibilities.

The Student Food Security Act of 2024 would support students facing food insecurity by expanding eligibility for SNAP, allowing students to use SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities, increasing outreach by federal and state agencies to food-insecure students, and establishing an annual grant program to aid colleges and universities in better identifying and serving students with food and housing needs.

According to a recent survey, nearly 40% of community college students are food insecure, over half are housing insecure, and 18% have experienced homelessness. These factors negatively impact student success and graduation rates. A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report further revealed that nearly 3.8 million college students may face food insecurity, risking their college completion and undermining federal and state investments in higher education. The GAO report found that almost 60% of potentially eligible students were not enrolled in SNAP, highlighting how current eligibility requirements are leaving food-insecure students behind.

"Students aren't learning when they're missing meals or living without stable housing," said Murphy. "Too often, college students, many of whom are also working or supporting a family, can't pay rent or have to skip meals because they are trying to make ends meet while paying thousands for tuition and textbooks every semester. If we want these students to succeed, it's on us to make sure they have the basics to do so. Our legislation would expand SNAP eligibility requirements and help universities better address food and housing insecurity so students can focus on their education without having to making these unfair sacrifices."

"For too long, students at colleges and universities have suffered food insecurity without proper support from federal and state governments. As we work to end hunger, it is crucial we invest in programs that provide college students with access to healthy, nutritious meals so they can succeed in the classroom and beyond," said Hayes. "College students in my district and nationwide have asked for our help, and it is time we delivered. The Student Food Security Act is a comprehensive proposal to address food insecurity among college students by expanding access to SNAP, investing in outreach programs to meet students where they are, and investing $1 billion annually to ensure colleges and universities have the tools they need to help house and feed students in need."

Specifically, the Student Food Security Act would:

1. Increase the SNAP eligibility of low-income college students by expanding eligibility to students who qualify for work study, have a $0 Student Aid Index, meet the financial eligibility criteria for a maximum Pell Grant (even if they have not filed the FAFSA), or are an independent student whose household is otherwise eligible. This would make permanent an expansion of SNAP eligibility that was first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Increase outreach to eligible students by directing the U.S. Department of Education to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and other relevant agencies to notify students they may be eligible for benefits when they file their application for federal student aid.
3. Require the Department of Education to collect data on food and housing insecurity.
4. Create a SNAP student hunger demonstration program to allow students to use their SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities at up to ten institutions.
5. Establish a $1 billion per year grant program to help institutions of higher education identify and meet the basic needs of their students, such as food, housing, childcare, etc. Grants can be used for research, planning, and implementation of strategies-educating students on federal, state, local, and tribal assistance programs. Institutions with increased numbers of Pell Grant recipients will be prioritized. At least 25% of grants must go to community colleges, and at least 25% must go to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions.

U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) also cosponsored the legislation in the Senate.

U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Troy Carter (D-La.), Jasmine Crockett (D-Tex.), Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-Ga.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Ala.), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), David Trone (D-Md.), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) co-sponsored the legislation in the House.

A one-pager is available HERE. Full text of the bill is available HERE.

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