Summer Meals

Floor Speech

Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. Speaker, more than 21 million children nationwide and 825,000 in Illinois rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year. Unfortunately, we often forget that these children can go hungry in the summer months, when they are not in school.

Recently, I visited the Share Our Strength Summer Meal Site in Palatine, Illinois. They provide summer meals to students who normally receive reduced-price breakfasts and lunches during the school year. As someone who was on the school breakfast and school lunch program myself, I know that it is imperative we work to reduce poverty in Illinois and that no child should have to miss their meal.

But our local communities cannot fight hunger on their own. That is why I will be cosponsoring the bipartisan Summer Meals Act, which will expand the USDA Summer Nutrition Program to help more children access quality meals during the summer months.

I believe that in the wealthiest nation in the world, no American child should go hungry, and no parent should have to make the difficult decision between paying rent or paying for groceries. Let's work together to stand up for our children by supporting summer food nutrition programs.

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