Last week, 47 House Republicans joined Democrats to pass the Respect for Marriage Act recognizing same-sex and interracial marriages at the federal level. The bill’s fate is uncertain in the Senate. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) needs at least 10 Republican votes to bring it to the floor, where it can pass with a simple majority.
Same-sex and interracial marriages are legal throughout the nation, but that could change if enough members of the Supreme Court agree with Justice Clarence Thomas. He concurred in the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade. At the same time, he urged the court to “reconsider” other rulings that protect prized freedoms—including our right to love, marry, and raise a family with our chosen partner.
As soon as this week, the House Education and Labor Committee may move to renew (in congressional lingo, “reauthorize”) school meals and other child nutrition programs. We are seeking a bill that:
Expands access to free meals for more students at school and during the summer
Invests in training and kitchen equipment for ESPs, the school food service professionals who keep our students fed and healthy
Addresses stigma and shaming issues related to school meal debt
Strengthens nutrition standards and invests in scratch cooking and farm-to-school programs
The bill introduced by the committee—the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act—meets those goals and more. It makes progress toward our long-term goal of healthy school meals for all students at no cost to them.
Our students need a solid foundation. Healthy, nutritious school meals help prepare them to learn and put them on the path to success.
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
President Biden’s FY2023 budget would make historic investments in the students most in need through $36.5 billion in Title I funding, $16.3 billion in IDEA state grants, and $468 million in full-service community schools.
