Proposed legislation to help families

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand FREE BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER TO SCHOOLCHILDREN

1 in 6 Children In New York Face Hunger; Gillibrand’s Legislation Would Get Free Meals To Kids Who Need Them WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a recent video press conference, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced the introduction of the

Universal School Meals Program Act.

The bill would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all schoolchildren regardless of income, expand access to free meals over the summer, and eliminate school meal debt.

“In the richest country on earth, it is unacceptable that millions of kids go hungry each day,” said Gillibrand.

“The Universal School Meals Program Act would provide funding for free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for students who need them and slash burdensome red tape for school administrators. It would make our families and communities healthier and stronger, keep kids in school, and work to fight the stigma too often associated with meal programs. I’m proud to be introducing this critical legislation today and look forward to getting it passed.”

The Universal School Meals Program Act would:

• Permanently provide free breakfast, lunch, and dinner to all schoolchildren regardless of income and put an end to burdensome application paperwork that poses a barrier to enrollment in meal programs.

• Increase the reimbursement rates for school authorities participating in the food and nutrition programs to more accurately reflect the true cost of providing meals.

• Reduce stigma associated with meal programs by eliminating meal debt and prohibiting school food authorities from discriminating against or overtly identifying a child participating in the free meal program

• Expand the summer food service program and summer EBT program by making all children eligible to participate in the programs. Currently, only communities where 50 percent of children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch can operate a summer meals program; the Universal School Meals Program Act would make all communities eligible regardless of income.

Free school meals are associated with a variety of positive outcomes, including improved attendance rates and school performance, fewer behavioral incidents, lower suspension rates, better health outcomes, and reduced financial stress for students and families.

Gillibrand has long been a champion for childhood nutrition. In March, she reintroduced the bipartisan MODERN WIC Act, which would make WIC benefits more accessible to low-income families by allowing them to certify and recertify for WIC services remotely. She also introduced the bipartisan Summer Meals Act, which would provide meals to children and teens in low-income areas during the summer months when school is not in session.

SOCIAL SECURITY CREDITS TO CAREGIVERS

• Caregivers Age 50+ Who Leave The Workforce Lose An Average Of $304,000 In Wages, Private Pensions, and Social Security

• 2.2 Million Family Caregivers

“The Universal School Meals

Program Act would provide funding for free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for students who need them and slash burdensome red tape for school administrators.” • Across New York Provide $39 Billion Worth of Care Every Year Gillibrand, also a member of the Senate Aging Committee, announced the reintroduction of the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act. This legislation that would provide Social Security credits to caregivers. Millions of Americans leave the workforce to become unpaid caregivers for sick, disabled, or elderly loved ones; Gillibrand’s legislation would make sure that their retirement is not threatened as a result.

“Families should never be forced to choose between caring for a loved one and ensuring the security of their retirement,” said Gillibrand. “We cannot continue to penalize workers who take time out of the workforce to take care of a sick child, an ailing grandparent, or a disabled spouse by denying them Social Security credits during that period. The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would recognize caregiving for what it is – work – and allow caregivers to continue to build toward their retirement.

I’m proud to be introducing this bill and look forward to getting it passed.”

Social Security credits are “units” the Social Security Administration uses to determine whether an individual has qualified for retirement, disability, and other benefits.

In 2023, a worker must earn $1,640 to earn one Social Security credit and $6,560 to earn the maximum of four credits per year, and they need 40 credits total to qualify for retirement benefits. Unpaid caregivers who leave the workforce or substantially reduce their hours earn fewer or no Social Security credits. As a result, they are at risk of not qualifying for benefits, putting their retirement security in jeopardy.

The Social Security Caregiver Credit Act would provide retirement credits to unpaid caregivers who spend at least 80 hours a month providing care to a dependent relative under the age of 12 or to a chronically dependent individual.

A chronically dependent individual is a person who cannot perform basic activities without the help of a caregiver.

Proposed legislation to help families

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