Currently, government action is problematically disproportionate to the needs of Americans. A prominent example of this is the need for universal free school lunches and the lack of beneficial legislation addressing the topic. But to try and find a solution to this problem, we must first understand its cause.
Universal free school meals are beneficial in a multitude of ways. They guarantee a free meal for every child, regardless of their economic situation. Research from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) shows that universal school meal programs lead to better student attendance, higher test scores, and reduced behavioral problems. Research from the USDA Economic Research Service displays the particular benefits of these policies for families previously just above the Federal Poverty Line to qualify for free lunch. These families were 5.7 percentage points less likely to struggle from food insufficiency under the new program.
Yet, after the federal policy of universal free school meals during COVID-19 ended, only eight states have passed laws to continue offering free meals for all. The success of California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Vermont highlights the potential for similar policies nationwide. Despite this fact, a majority of the states are still in the murky process of reviewing current legislation, and according to the NYC Food Policy Center, 15 states haven’t done anything.
The cause for the lack of beneficial legislation passed can be summed up in one word; representation - or the lack thereof.
Those who have the greatest need for universal free school meals are often concentrated in low-income or urban areas. The USDA ERS claims that in states without universal free meal policies, families below the Federal Poverty Line suffer from a 9.8% increase in food insufficiency compared to their counterparts in states with the policy. Unfortunately, most areas under these circumstances are faced with a paradoxical reality; they cannot amplify their voices without feeding their children, yet they cannot feed their children because their voices aren't being heard.
On the other hand, some groups exert too much influence in legislative environments, causing a lack of will to address the vicious cycle of food insecurity for students. The inability of elected officials to pass more beneficial legislation such as universal school meals is often rooted in political gridlock. A 2022 report by the Pew Research Center found that partisanship in Congress is at its highest level in decades. This research reflected significant divides on issues related to social welfare programs. Currently, universal school meals may even become a main talking point of the upcoming 2024 presidential election. In recent news, Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz signed a free school meals bill while think tanks such as Heritage Foundation, which is behind Project 2025, argue universal school meals reduce parental responsibility and increase government dependency.
However, hunger-free children shouldn’t be considered a progressive concept, a part of a larger agenda, or a talking point. Making sure each child is well-fed and able to focus in school is the very embodiment of values such as equal opportunity; values that everyone in this country should share.
Listening to the need for (and benefits of) free school meals for all and responding with action should be common sense for politicians on all sides of the political spectrum, yet there are few taking tangible steps to fight this issue. However, Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, is one public figure who has taken action regarding free school lunches in his state. Walz's understanding of universal school meals and time spent in the classroom allows him to grasp the importance of the issue, signing the universal school meal legislation for the state of Minnesota. According to the NYC Food Policy Center, Walz had connections with state and local education systems, encouraging effective, honest communication between the two.
Small changes made locally can result in greater change across the country. For this reason, it is clear that an organization formed to resolve food insecurity at lunchtime and the lack of government action could be particularly efficient in combating the issue of hunger in schools. The organization could be based on a central body, connecting many local, semi-autonomous chapters. When beneficial decisions cannot be made due to outside influence, whether that be politically or even commercially, it is intuitive that an independent body or committee be established. The implementation of free services, programs, and information regarding universal school meals and independent candidates who support the legislation could result in one small victory after another, creating change from the bottom up.
Many other accomplished individuals have long supported or even founded independent committees in response to problems also enabled by government inaction. For example, Malala Yousafzai started the Malala Fund to support the education of girls in high-need countries, implementing a system of Education Champion Networks. The Fund’s 2023 report showcases hundreds of students re-enrolling in schools as a result of local networks in regions such as Ethiopia, despite the setbacks of budget cuts and COVID-19. In 2018 Greta Thunberg founded Fridays For Future (FFF), which connects young people and allows for the organization of local meetings and protests around the globe. FFF has been particularly successful in Germany, being cited as a factor in the German Green Party's electoral success. In 2021, shortly after FFF’s protests, Germany's Federal Constitutional Court ruled that the government’s current climate protection policies were insufficient (read more here).
The Malala Fund’s and FFF’s successes stand as testaments to the power and positive changes that independent committees, local networks, and advocacy for the youth, by the youth, can yield. While not geared towards the specific issue of universally free school lunches (or their absence), the problems these organizations were geared toward fixing all have the same cause; lack of beneficial legislation and action.
The Young Forwardists believe in fighting for a better future. As a country, our children are that future. Their opportunities and development will determine the strength and prosperity of our nation. Legislation should not be slow, or even worse, unresponsive, to their needs. As people, we must choose not to move left or right, but forward - towards ensuring all children are healthy, happy, and one step closer to a bright future.
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