McGovern Legislation Would Boost School Meals

This month, U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee , who represents Medway in Congress, introduced legislation permanently increasing the federal reimbursement level for school meals to help address funding challenges, enhance nutrition, increase access to locally grown food, invest in our school food professionals, and support expanded services like afterschool snacks and breakfast in the classroom.

The Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act permanently increases the federal reimbursement level for all free, reduced-price, and paid-rate school meals by 45 cents for every lunch served and 28 cents for every breakfast served, with a yearly adjustment.

 “Current reimbursement rates do not adequately cover food and labor costs for meal programs, which can lead to more processed, pre-packaged food. The next generation of Americans—our future doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, mechanics, and leaders in every field across the country—all need us to step up and improve the quality of food in our schools. It will be a win-win for our economy, our farmers, our school nutrition workforce, and our students,” said McGovern.

“High costs and insufficient funds are hampering efforts to expand scratch cooking and reduce added sugar and sodium in school meals,” said School Nutrition Association President Stephanie Dillard, MS, SNS. “School meal programs desperately need increased reimbursements to invest in staff and training, upgrade kitchen equipment, and purchase more fresh and local produce. The Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act will ensure school nutrition professionals have the necessary resources to fuel student success and promote lifelong healthy eating habits.”