CA SR112

California became the first state to enact a universal school meals program in 2021, providing meals to all public school pupils since the 2022–23 school year.

The state requests Congress to pass the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023 (H.R.3204 and S.1568) and President Biden to sign the legislation.

Universal school meals improve student health, academic performance, school attendance, and mental health while reducing disciplinary problems and suspension rates.

The program maximizes federal reimbursements through the Community Eligibility Provision and eliminates stigma by providing free meals to all students without individual applications.

A national universal school meals program would generate approximately $40 billion in economic benefits and has support from dozens of national education, health, agriculture, and child welfare organizations.