Larson Introduces Universal School Meals Bill to End Childhood Hunger with Senator Bernie Sanders and Reps. Omar and McGovern

"As a former public-school teacher, I know how important it is for children to have the nutrition they need to be successful," said Larson. "In the wealthiest nation in the world, no child should go hungry. Students should be able to focus on what they are learning in the classroom, not where their next meal will come from. I'm proud to team up with my colleagues to build on the progress we made in Connecticut this year and bring universal school meals nationwide. Taking food out of the mouths of children is flat-out cruel. That is what Donald Trump and the Republicans did last year by slashing SNAP and funding for school meals to pay for tax breaks for their billionaire buddies. I'll continue to work on commonsense solutions that feed our children and families, and invest in the Americans who need our help the most, not the wealthy and well-connected."

"It is outrageous that, while the billionaire class has never had it so good, one in five children will go hungry in America this year," said Sanders. "The United States is the richest country in the history of the world. Nobody should be going hungry. And what we learned during the pandemic is that a universal approach to school meals works and helps kids do better in school. States across the country continue to prove this every day. It is time for Congress to reinstate universal school meals at the national level to finally ensure no student goes hungry."

"No child should have to sit in a classroom hungry or worried about where their next meal will come from," said Omar. "As a former nutrition educator and someone who experienced hunger firsthand, this fight is deeply personal to me. I have always believed you must feed kids' bellies before you can feed their brains. That is why I am proud to partner again with Bernie Sanders to introduce the Universal School Meals Program Act, which would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to students year-round. Universal school meals are not a luxury-they are a necessity."

"School meals improve food security, health outcomes, and academic performance-simply put, they help kids succeed. Several states-including my home state of Massachusetts-have permanently implemented free universal school meals, helping expand access to breakfasts and lunches for all students. It has been hugely successful in increasing participation, reducing stigma, and making life a little easier and more affordable for families," said McGovern. "It is long past time we permanently implement universal school meals nationwide and increase reimbursement rates to ensure every student can go to school knowing they have two healthy meals to fuel their learning."