In Orange, McGovern Announces LUNCHES Act to Reimburse Schools More Money for Student Meals

Press Release

Today in Orange, U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), joined by Orange Superintendent of Schools Dr. Liz Zielinski and Fisher Hill Elementary Director of Food Services Jacki Dillenbeck, announced the LUNCHES Act--a new bill in the House of Representatives to help school districts provide students with healthy food by reimbursing them for the actual cost of producing school lunches.

A 2019 study from the USDA found a 49-cent difference between the actual cost to produce the lunch and the rate schools are reimbursed. McGovern's bill would permanently increase the reimbursement rate for lunches by 49-cents to close the gap and help provide much needed relief to schools so they can focus on feeding students and preparing them for the future. If passed, his bill would provide Orange Elementary Schools with an additional $26,516.84 to help provide healthy, nutritious food to students.

The Level Up Nutrition for Children in Every School, or LUNCHES Act, is endorsed by the National Education Association, the School Nutrition Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"This bill is very simple but incredibly necessary," said Congressman McGovern. "No child should ever go without healthy, nutritious food in America's schools--and schools shouldn't be required to make up the difference by digging deeper and deeper into already thin budgets. This is an issue of national importance, and I will be working with my colleagues to move this bill to President Biden's desk."

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