Bill Text: NJ SCR89 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges United States Congress to pass "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021."
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-03 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Education Committee [SCR89 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-SCR89-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Urges United States Congress to pass "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging the United States Congress to pass the "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021."
Whereas, Millions of people face food insecurity every day and, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, five million children in the United States lived in food insecure homes; and
Whereas, The pandemic has exacerbated this problem, with the United States Department of Agriculture estimating that 12 million children in the United States lived in food insecure homes at the height of the pandemic, many of whom experienced the stress of food insecurity for the first time; and
Whereas, Families across the United States continue to struggle financially in the aftermath of the pandemic; putting food and other basic necessities out of reach for many working families; and
Whereas, Hungry children are more likely to have less energy, be more easily distracted, come to school late or miss school entirely; and
Whereas, Free and accessible school meals have been shown to reduce financial stress for students and their families, and to improve the health, educational, and behavioral outcomes of students; and
Whereas, Prior to the start of the pandemic, close to 30 million children in the country relied on free or reduced-priced breakfast and lunch offered through the United States Department of Agriculture; and
Whereas, Schools offering universal school meals during the COVID-19 pandemic have played an important role in fighting the rise in child hunger; and
Whereas, Due to significant economic disruption caused by the pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture provided waivers of certain school meal rules, allowing school meals to be served free for all students; and
Whereas, The "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021," currently pending in the United States Congress, would deliver permanent relief to millions of food insecure families by providing free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children regardless of their socioeconomic status; and
Whereas, The "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021," if enacted by the United States Congress, would eliminate school food debt and reimburse schools for all delinquent school meal debt; and
Whereas, The "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021," would expand the existing free school breakfast and lunch program so that every child receives a free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack, irrespective of income, ensuring no child is left hungry; 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 United States Congress to pass the "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021."
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 U.S. Congress, and each member of Congress elected from New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the "Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021." This federal legislation would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children regardless of their socioeconomic background. This legislation also eliminates school food debt and reimburses schools for all delinquent school meal debt.
Millions of families live with the threat of food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that nearly 12 million children in the United States lived in food insecure homes at the height of the pandemic, with many of these children experiencing food insecurity for the first time. Hungry children are more likely to be late or miss school, have behavioral issues, and have less energy.
In an effort to combat the rise in child hunger, the USDA issued waivers, allowing schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of income.
As the pandemic persists, many families continue to struggle to provide food and other basic necessities. The provision of free and accessible school meals has been shown to reduce financial stress for students and their families, and to improve the health, educational, and behavioral outcomes of students.
