MA Congressional delegation supports Breakfast After the Bell

Last month, all nine members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, including western Massachusetts Representatives Jim McGovern and Richard Neal, submitted a letter in support of Breakfast After the Bell Legislation (H. 591 and S. 267) to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Education. If passed into law, Breakfast After the Bell would require all qualified low-income schools in the state to provide free, healthy breakfast to all students in the comfort of their classrooms regardless of circumstances.

“School meals are just as essential as textbooks when it comes to helping our kids learn and succeed,” the joint letter stated.  “For some students – especially those living in poverty – healthy school breakfasts and lunches are their only nutritious meals in a given day.”

As a member of the Rise and Shine Massachusetts Coalition, The Food Bank has been advocating for Breakfast After the Bell legislation to get a quick hearing in committee then move on to a House and Senate vote. On March 6, 2019, our advocacy team took part in a Breakfast After the Bell Lobby Day at the State House along with other anti-hunger organizations and citizen advocates. The group spent the day meeting with legislators and their aides to encourage them to support the legislation.