WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has introduced the School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act, legislation aimed at eliminating all outstanding student meal debt and addressing food insecurity on a national scale. The bill, introduced alongside Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Peter Welch (D-VT), would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to cover the cost of unpaid school meal bills while also expanding the department’s authority to support food banks.
“‘School lunch debt’ is a term so absurd that it shouldn’t even exist,” said Senator Fetterman. “It’s long past time to stop humiliating kids and penalizing hunger. This bill will protect students’ access to healthy food and support working families.”
Nationally, over 20 million children struggle to afford school meals, contributing to a staggering $176 million in public school meal debt each year. Pennsylvania alone accounts for nearly $234 million in meal debt among its food-insecure children. The proposed legislation aims to ease the financial burden on families while ensuring that no child faces hunger at school due to unpaid meal fees.
Senator Blumenthal emphasized the urgency of the measure, calling the practice of student meal debt “unacceptable” and highlighting the long-term benefits of providing all students with access to free, nutritious meals. Senator Welch added, “Our students should be focused on learning—not worrying about whether they can afford school lunch.”
The bill builds on precedents set during the COVID-19 pandemic, when federal lawmakers temporarily provided universal free meals for public school students, a program that expired last year. States that have since implemented universal free meal programs have reported significant improvements in student well-being and academic performance.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, Senator Fetterman has made combating hunger a key priority. He has previously championed legislation such as the Universal School Meals Program Act and continues to advocate for expanded access to SNAP benefits and other initiatives supporting vulnerable populations.
If passed, the School Lunch Debt Cancellation Act would not only relieve families of debt but also strengthen efforts to combat food insecurity nationwide. Advocates see this as a critical step toward ensuring no child in the United States has to choose between hunger and education. The legislation now moves forward for consideration in Congress.
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