U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., on Wednesday, May 10, joined as a sponsor of the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2023. Originally introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the bill would provide free breakfast, lunch and dinner to every student to help prevent children from going hungry.

“It is downright cruel that we are letting our children in America go hungry,” Fetterman said. “No child in America should be worried about if they are going to be able to get breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I am proud and honored to co-sponsor this bill that will finally make sure that our children are fed.”

The bill would provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack to every school-age child; put an end to school lunch shaming; increase the reimbursement rate for school meals; reimburse schools for school lunch debt; provide incentives for local food procurement; and provide free summer meals to low-income children, Fetterman said.