U.S. Representatives introduce bipartisan bill to combat childhood hunger, expand access to meals outside regular school hours

In August, Representatives Mary Peltola, Rick Larsen from Washington, and Chris Smith of New Jersey introduced the Summer Meals Act of 2024, a bipartisan bill to fight childhood hunger by expanding access to healthy, nutritious meals and snacks offered to students during the summer months.

Known as the Summer Meals Act, the legislation would reform and expand the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federal initiative that funds meals served by nonprofit organizations, school districts and public agencies to children during the summer months.

The summer months can be especially hard for low-income children to access meals because they lose access to free and reduced-price school meals. In July 2023, only 1 in every 7 children who relies on free or reduced-price lunch during the school year received a meal through the SFSP. The Summer Meals Act aims to close this gap.

Specifically, the Summer Meals Act would allow site sponsors to operate year-round, enabling SFSP participants to operate more efficiently, lower the area eligibility threshold from 50% to 40%, allowing areas with at least 40% of students receiving free or reduced lunch to participate in the SFSP.

It would also allow summer meal sites to serve three, rather than two, meals per day and also fund grants to encourage innovative meal delivery, such as through mobile meal trucks, to help increase food access for children in rural and underserved areas.

“As a mom to seven, I understand the stress and financial commitment that it takes to feed a family,” said Representative Peltola, who represents Alaska’s At-Large Congressional District. “The summer should be a time for families to be together, but for too many Alaska kids, it brings uncertainty and hunger. Our bill will ensure Alaska's future leaders have the nutrients they need to grow all year long.”

“Kids should be focused on learning and getting good grades instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from,” said Representative Larsen, who represents Washington State’s Second Congressional District. “One in six children in Washington State faces hunger. With schools out, summer months are especially hard for children in low-income and underserved communities. The Summer Meals Act builds partnerships and breaks down barriers to ensure children in the Pacific Northwest and across the country get regular, healthy meals, regardless of the season.”