Senators Collins, Smith Introduce Legislation to Help Schools Provide More Nutritious Meals

Statement

Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the School Food Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill to help schools provide healthier meals to students across the country by establishing a grant, loan guarantee, and technical assistance program.

"School meals play a vital role in the lives of our young people. More than 95,000 schools participate in the National School Lunch program, serving more than 30 million children each day. Many schools, however, lack the right tools for preparing meals rich in fresh ingredients," said Senator Collins. "Our legislation would help schools purchase equipment and provide training to allow food service personnel to offer a wide variety of nutritious meals and snacks for students."

"Nutritious meals in schools don't just keep kids from going hungry; they make it so students can focus and develop a love of learning," said Senator Smith, a member of the Senate Education Committee. "Yet, in Minnesota, 96 percent of school districts are in need of updated kitchen equipment to better serve nutritious food. This bipartisan bill will enable schools to provide students with the healthy meals they need to reach their full potential in the classroom."

The School Food Modernization Act is supported by the Maine School Nutrition Association, FoodCorps, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and United Fresh Produce.

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