McIver Introduces Bill to Expand Access to Summer Meals for Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) introduced the Summer Meals Reaching Every Area's Child Hunger (REACH) Act, a bill to expand access to free summer meals for children by removing barriers that prevent schools and community organizations from serving families where they are. As Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) previously introduced this legislation in the Senate, Rep. McIver is championing this effort in the House.

During school breaks, millions of children lose access to the breakfasts and lunches they rely on during the school year, leaving many families struggling to put food on the table. Just 16% of the children who receive free or reduced-price school lunch get lunch during the summer months. The Summer Meals REACH Act would modernize the Summer Food Service Program by permitting grab-and-go meal services and expanding eligibility for more communities to participate.

"Every child deserves access to healthy and nutritious meals, no matter the season," said Rep. McIver. "For too many families, summertime brings fear of losing the meals their children rely on during the school year. We know what works. Giving summer meal providers the flexibility to offer grab-and-go meals and meal delivery options are common-sense, proven measures to fight summer hunger. Your ZIP Code shouldn't determine whether young people have enough to eat. That's why I'm leading the Summer Meals REACH Act with Senator Kim, to cut unnecessary red tape, expand access to summer meals, and ensure no child goes hungry simply because school is out."

"When schools close for summer break, millions of children lose access to the breakfasts, lunches, and after-school meals they rely on during the academic year," said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05). "The Summer Meals REACH Act makes permanent several practical flexibilities within the Summer Food Service Program, allowing local providers to serve more children during this time. Going hungry during summer months is not something a child in the richest country on earth should have to worry about. This legislation will expand access to the nutritious meals children need to stay healthy and ready to learn."

"For millions of kids, the summer break from school means worrying about where they'll get their next meal," said Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ). "We need all of Congress working together to tackle summer hunger - that's why I am grateful for Representatives McIver and Hayes for heading up this legislation in the House and helping take us one step closer to making sure every child has access to nutritious food year-round."

"Hungry kids are only kids who dread, instead of relishing, summer vacations off school, because the vast majority of U.S. children who receive school meals over the school year don't receive summer meals when schools are closed," said Joel Berg, Chief Executive Officer, Hunger Free America. "We applaud Rep. McIver for leading the effort to close that gap."

"Consistent access to nutritious food is critical year-round, especially for children who rely on school meals during the academic year," said Tamara Randall, President, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND. "The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics commends Rep. LaMonica McIver for championing the Summer Meals REACH Act in the House to help ensure more children have access to healthy meals during the summer months. Nutritious meals support children's growth, well-being and healthy eating habits, helping set them up for success in school and beyond."

"The summer months can be difficult for food insecure children who lose access to school meals," said Lisa Pitz, Director, Hunger Free New Jersey. "The Summer Food Service Program is an important way to bridge that gap, but current eligibility rules limit where the program can operate. The Summer Meals REACH Act is a positive step forward that would expand access to summer meals to more children in New Jersey and throughout our nation. Hunger Free New Jersey commends Representative McIver for introducing this legislation to support children and families during summer break when many are struggling to afford food."

"No child in America should ever go hungry. We know that childhood hunger causes lasting physical and psychological effects on a child's growth and development," said Jeremy Haines, MA, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, The National Association of Social Workers. "Research has shown that childhood hunger is connected to depression in adolescence and young adulthood, as well as mood, behavior, and substance use disorders. Members of Congress have the ability to take a giant step toward ending childhood food insecurity by supporting the Summer Meals REACH Act of 2026"

"CLASP proudly supports the Summer Meals REACH Act because every child deserves access to nutritious meals, regardless of where they live or their family's circumstances. By expanding eligibility, increasing flexibility through non-congregate meal options, and reducing administrative barriers for providers, this legislation helps ensure that more children can access the food they need when school is out," said Parker Gilkesson Davis, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Law and Social Policy. "At a time when families are facing rising costs and growing uncertainty, we should be making it easier-not harder-for children to receive healthy meals. This bill is a commonsense step toward reducing child hunger and ensuring no child falls through the cracks during the summer months."

The Summer Meals REACH Act would:

• Eliminate the area eligibility requirement, allowing all sites to serve free meals.

• Eliminate the congregate feeding requirement, allowing grab-and-go meal service at all locations.

• Eliminate the on-site monitoring requirement to allow sponsors flexible, remote monitoring options.

This bill is endorsed by: Hunger Free America, National Association of Social Workers, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Federation of Teachers, Center for Law and Social Policy, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Hunger Free New Jersey, and Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Full text of the The Summer Meals REACH Act can be found here.

###