Rep. Mike Levin Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Free and Reduced-Price School Meals for Military
Nearly 20% of Service Members Face Food Insecurity; Bill Would Expand Access to Free School Meals & Nutrition Assistance
Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Mike Levin (CA-49) and Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07) reintroduced the bipartisan Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act, H.R. 7259, to remove the basic allowance for housing (BAH) from the calculation of income for eligibility in free and reduced-price school meal programs.
Many military families are denied federal food assistance because, under current law, a service member’s housing allowance is counted as income. BAH can put military families over the eligibility threshold for free and reduced-price meal assistance.
In high cost of living areas, such as San Diego, families of junior officers and enlisted service members often struggle with food insecurity. The San Diego Food Bank serves nearly 40,000 veterans and active-duty military personnel and their dependents every month. One in five active-duty service members indicated they had trouble getting enough food for themselves and their families in 2023. By removing BAH from the calculation of military income, more military families would have access to free- and reduced-price school meals.
“The men and women who risk their lives for our country should never struggle to feed their children,” said Rep. Levin. “Though there is much more we must do to improve the financial well-being of service members, this is an important step towards ensuring military families based at Camp Pendleton and across the country can focus on executing their mission rather than on where their families will find the next meal.”
“No children of servicemembers should lose access to school meals because of how housing benefits are counted,” said Rep. Ryan Mackenzie. “Military families already sacrifice for their country, and while Congress has passed a nearly 4% pay increase for servicemembers, factors like family size, geographic location, and housing costs mean some families still need additional support. That’s why I’m proud to work with Congressman Levin to support bipartisan, commonsense changes that better serve military dependents and ensure kids can focus on learning, not hunger.”
The Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act would also require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Defense (DOD) to provide a report to Congress on the feasibility and cost of establishing a program to directly certify military dependents for free and reduced-price school meal programs.
“The health and wellbeing of America’s service members and their families are matters of mission readiness, troop retention, and future recruitment,” said Liza Lieberman, Vice President of Public Affairs at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. “We must do more — not less — to help military families access food assistance and remove the persistent policy barriers that have been in place for far too long. We are grateful for leaders like Reps. Levin and Mackenzie, who recognize the power of free and reduced-price school meals, and who understand their critical role as policymakers in protecting access to basic needs programs for every American in need.”
“Children can’t be expected to learn if they’re hungry,” said Besa Pinchotti, CEO of the National Military Family Association. “The National School Lunch Program exists to ensure that children receive the balanced meals they need to succeed in school, even when families face financial strain. Military families should not be penalized by counting housing allowances as income. We thank Mike Levin and Ryan Mackenzie for reintroducing the Military Dependents School Meal Eligibility Act, which would remove unnecessary barriers and help ensure military-connected children have access to school meals.”
This bill is endorsed by the Military Family Advisory Network, TREA: The Enlisted Association, National Military Family Association, Service Women’s Action Network, Gold Star Spouses of America, AMVETS, Military Officers Association of America, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Food Research Action Center, San Diego Hunger Coalition, National Education Association, and Alliance to End Hunger.
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