The White House endorsed universal access to healthy, free school meals, NEA’s top priority for child nutrition, as part of its Sept. 28 conference on hunger, nutrition, and health. It was the first event of its kind at the White House in more than half a century.
NEA has long maintained that ALL students deserve healthy, nutritious school meals—both to prepare them to learn and put them on the path to success.
NEA President Becky Pringle tweeted, “By supporting and investing in universal healthy school meals for all students at no charge to them, the Biden Administration is taking a giant leap toward ending childhood hunger in America.”
At the White House conference, NEA member Cathy Grano, a school nurse from Middletown Township Public Schools in New Jersey, participated in a panel about another key element of NEA’s policy recommendations: “The Power of Play: Supporting Physical Activity for Kids.”
At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual legislative conference, also held last week, NEA President Becky Pringle discussed gun violence on a panel led by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) while Virginia Education Association President Dr. James Fedderman addressed challenges facing black students on a panel led by Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL).
The action items below include three ways you can show your support for universal access to free, healthy school meals for students. Email your members of Congress today!
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
CHEER: To help address the teacher shortage and ensure long-term investments in teacher pipeline and development programs, the U.S. Department of Education will provide 22 three-year grants totaling more than $60 million as part of the Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) program.
JEER: Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) introduced H.R. 8961 to abolish the U.S. Department of Education.
