BOSTON —Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) applauded the Massachusetts Legislature vote to include permanent universal free school meals for K-12 students in the Commonwealth in their FY24 budget.

“Food security is a human right, and I applaud my State House colleagues for voting to codify that right into law for every student in the Commonwealth. With food insecurity on the rise nationwide, permanent universal free meals in our schools will quite literally change and save lives.

“In one of the richest nations in the world, no child should ever go hungry, and including universal meals in schools is a step in the right direction towards addressing America’s hunger crisis. I’m grateful for the Massachusetts Legislature and to the advocates and organizers who fought relentlessly to make this possible. Congress must follow suit and make this a reality for every child who calls America home.”

In September 2022, Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the White House Hunger Conference, which she participated in along with Chairman James P. McGovern (MA-02) and others.

In July 2022, at the request of the White House, Rep. Pressley held a district convening on Food Insecurity with Project Bread as part of the upcoming WH hunger conference. Testimony from this convening was transmitted to the White House, along with some specific recommendations, to help inform the conference.

In October 2021, Rep. Pressley joined Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) at a press conference to unveil legislation that would start the process of convening a national White House conference on food, nutrition, hunger, and health.  

Rep. Pressley has also led efforts to extend the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) child nutrition waiver authority, which has allowed millions of children in Massachusetts and across the nation to access free and healthy school meals during the pandemic. She delivered a floor speech renewing her calls for its extension last month and applauded the House’s passage of legislation to do so later that month. 

###