Assemblyman Avi Schnall has joined as a co-sponsor of Resolution ACR-115, introduced by Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-7) and Tennille McCoy (D-14), which urges the U.S. Congress to enact the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023. This resolution aims to address and eradicate child hunger in New Jersey and across the nation by ensuring that every school child receives free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack, irrespective of their family’s income.
The necessity for such a program in New Jersey is underscored by the current plight faced by numerous children who are deprived of free meals in schools because of insufficient eligibility among the student population. This gap in the system has left many vulnerable children without access to the essential nutrition they need, affecting their physical health, emotional well-being, and academic performance.
“No child should ever have to face the day on an empty stomach. Hunger should not be a barrier to learning,” said Assemblyman Schnall (D-30). “I am deeply grateful for the strides we’ve made in New Jersey under the leadership of Speaker Coughlin, including the expansion of the lunch program to encompass non-public schools. Yet, there remains much to be done. My hope is to see the day when every student, without exception, benefits from universal free lunch.”