Tell Congress to Make School Meals Free and Fresh for All Kids!
All kids get free bus rides. All kids get free textbooks. So why do we still divide public school kids by household income in the cafeteria? Our children deserve better, and right now, Congress has a chance to support ALL students by passing the Universal School Meals Program Act.
After decades of underinvestment in school meals, this is a historic chance to guarantee free, healthy school meals for all kids, eliminate school meal debt, and fight childhood hunger. Up to 30 million students rely on school meals to nourish their bodies and fuel their learning. School food professionals should spend more time cooking from scratch and less time settling up meal debt. Don't wait — write your congressperson today!
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor and support the Universal School Meals Program Act (H.R. 8798 and S 4518), which was recently reintroduced by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Ilhan Omar. This critical legislation would provide free breakfast and lunch to all students across the country.
Universal school meals would allow school food professionals to focus on preparing nutritious food, cooked from scratch, rather than burdensome paperwork and administrative tasks.
If passed, the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2026 would:
- Guarantee free school meals to all students, regardless of income
- Give schools more funding to make better meals
- Incentivize schools to buy more local foods
- Eliminate school meal debt
- End school lunch shaming
By enacting the Universal School Meals Program Act, you can help make school meals healthier and more accessible for the 30 million children who rely on them.
I strongly encourage you to prioritize supporting child well-being by supporting this bill. Thank you for your consideration.
