U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) announced on April 20, 2023, the introduction of the H.R. 2777, the “School Meals During School Closures Act,” which would allow states or school districts to continue to provide free and subsidized meals during disruptions, such as extreme weather events, emergency repairs or school closures.
This legislation would permit the Secretary of Agriculture to grant waivers to any state or service provider to continue providing school meals during a strike or other labor-management dispute, inclement weather, a natural disaster, public health emergency, unsafe facilities, construction, repairs or any other unanticipated event.
“No student should have to go a day struggling with hunger in the United States of America,” Omar says. “As a former nutrition educator and someone who has experienced hunger myself, I believe that every student deserves access to healthy and nutritious meals, regardless of their circumstances.”
The “School Meals During School Closures Act” is endorsed by the School Nutrition Association (SNA) and several other organizations. Read more here.
Related Articles
