AJR 8: School meals: federal National School Lunch Program.

This measure would urge the federal government to provide school lunches free of charge to all elementary, middle school, and high school students in the United States.

WHEREAS, The federal National School Lunch Program provides free and reduced-cost meals to tens of millions of children across the United States, and subsidizes more than 30,000,000 meals each day; and

WHEREAS, The intent of the federal National School Lunch Program is to help improve the nutrition of millions of low-income children; and

WHEREAS, Children participating in the federal National School Lunch Program are more likely to consume milk, fruits, and vegetables at lunch, and less likely to have nutrient inadequacies compared to children not participating in the federal National School Lunch Program; and

WHEREAS, Experts suggest that participating in the federal National School Lunch Program can reduce student obesity rates by at least 17 percent, and reduce poor health by at least 29 percent; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that providing students with adequate nutrition at school significantly improves their academic performance, especially among underperforming students and students who qualify for free lunch; and

WHEREAS, Children and adolescents struggling with inadequate nutrition and food insecurity are at higher risk of behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues; and

WHEREAS, Research suggests that increased participation in the federal National School Lunch Program can reduce food insecurity by at least 3.8 percent; and

WHEREAS, Recent findings suggest that the coronavirus pandemic will lead to increased rates of food insecurity, particularly among Native American, Latino, and African American communities; and

WHEREAS, Providing free school lunches to all students may reduce stigma that reduces participation in the federal National School Lunch Program, enhance student academic performance, and lead to better health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Second Gentleman of the United States, Douglas Emhoff, have repeatedly highlighted their determination to end food insecurity in our country, and demonstrated their commitment on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by volunteering at food banks; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the federal government to provide school lunches free of charge to all elementary, middle school, and high school students in the United States; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.