SCR121

A Concurrent Resolution respectfully urging Congress to provide for a permanent universal school meals program.

Whereas, Families across the United States continue to struggle financially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and that financial struggle has been further exacerbated by the rising cost of food; and

Whereas, In response to rapidly increasing childhood hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided a waiver that allowed school meals to be served for free to all students regardless of a student’s socioeconomic status, until June 2022; and

Whereas, With the temporary waiver expansion ending for the 2022-2023 school year, more than 10 million students will lose the free breakfast and lunch that many students have depended on since the COVID-19 pandemic began; and

Whereas, School meals are essential to ensure that a child has the fuel the child needs to focus, learn, and concentrate; and

Whereas, A hungry child is more likely to have less energy, be more easily distracted, come to school late or miss school entirely, all of which will have a negative impact on the child’s academic performance; and

Whereas, A child who lacks adequate access to safe and nutritious food is at a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses and behavioral problems; and

Whereas, Free and accessible school meals have been shown to reduce financial stress and to improve the health, educational, and behavioral outcomes of a student; and

Whereas, Universal free school meals lessen the stigma associated with participation in free and reduced price school meal programs; and

Whereas, Before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 150,000 children in New Jersey who were eligible for free or reduced lunch did not receive the free or reduced price lunch either due to a lack of program awareness or a lack of access; and

Whereas, To address critical food security needs, Congress should temporarily extend the USDA waivers that were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2022-2023 school year and permanently provide breakfast and lunch for free to all students nationwide; and

Whereas, A nationwide universal school meals program would provide a broader and more equitable approach to addressing food insecurity by filling in the gaps in food access created by the pandemic, as well as the gaps in food access that existed before the pandemic; and

Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge Congress to provide for a permanent universal school meals program; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to provide for a permanent universal school meals program.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This resolution respectfully urges Congress to provide for a permanent universal school meals program.

Families across the United States are struggling financially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of food price inflation. In response to rapidly increasing childhood hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided a waiver that allowed all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, to receive breakfast and lunch for free. The meals provided during the pandemic increased access to safe and nutritious meals for millions of children. The temporary waivers from the USDA will end for the 2022-2023 school year, ending access to free meals for 10 million children.

School meals are essential to ensure that a child has the fuel necessary to learn, concentrate, and focus. A hungry child may have trouble concentrating, be easily distracted, or miss school entirely, all of which will have a negative impact on the child’s academic performance. Providing free meals to all students has been shown to decrease the financial worries of a child’s family while also reducing the stigma associated with free meal programs.

Over 150,000 New Jersey children who were eligible for free or reduced price school meals before the pandemic did not receive these meals due to a lack of awareness of the program or a lack of access. To provide broader access to food, it is necessary for Congress to extend the USDA waivers provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and permanently provide free breakfast and lunch to all students nationwide.