SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — With kids returning to the classroom, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced a bill to permanently provide free school meals to students regardless of income. The bill will also expand access to free meals over the summer.
The Universal School Meal Program Act will help 1.5 billion students across the state, Gillibrand said.
The program will also stop school food managers from discriminating against children participating in free meal programs.
“In the richest country on earth, it is unacceptable that millions of kids go hungry each day. The Universal School Meals Program Act would provide funding for free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for all students and slash burdensome red tape for school administrators,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill would make our families and communities healthier and stronger, keep kids in school, and work to fight the stigma too often associated with meal programs.
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