Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021

The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 proposes to make breakfast, lunch, and snacks free for all students in public and private non-profit schools, regardless of their family’s income level. The bill would eliminate the traditional application process for free or reduced-price meals, instead providing federal reimbursement for all meals served to students.

For families and students, this legislation would end "school meal debt" and prohibit schools from using visible identifiers, such as special tokens or separate lines, for students who previously qualified for financial assistance. Additionally, the bill would expand access to summer meal programs and increase the amount of federal funding schools receive for each meal to help cover the costs of higher-quality ingredients.