ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee heard and passed Senator Heather Gustafson’s (DFL-Vadnais Heights) Universal School Meals Bill. SF 123 provides free breakfast and lunch to all public and charter K12 students regardless of household income. In response, Senator Gustafson released the following statement:
“I’ve been a teacher for over a decade and I can tell you, first hand, that when kids come to school hungry, learning becomes almost impossible. Over the years, I’ve had many students come to my classroom looking for food, not just for themselves but often for their siblings too. When this basic need, essential to survival, is not met, there’s no worksheet, assignment, test, or project that will be their priority. If we require kids to be in schools, we need to make sure they are fed regardless of their household income in the same ways we ensure all students have textbooks, desks, paper, etc…My bill to provide free breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students is critical policy, has bipartisan support, and puts money back in the pockets of Minnesota’s families.”
Senate File 123 passed the Senate Finance Committee and is headed to the Senate Floor for a vote.
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Learn more about Sen. Gustafson.
