Hayes Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Fresh Meals to Schools

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) introduced the Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act , with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) . Companion legislation has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) . This bipartisan legislation would create a competitive grant program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand scratch cooking in schools. Scratch cooking allows school districts to prepare their own meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients instead of serving pre-assembled or processed meals. This innovative approach incorporates a farm to table system in the school setting that helps to reduce water, carbon, and waste footprints. Research shows that school meals are the most nutritious food source for American schoolchildren. Through scratch cooking, students are afforded the opportunity to consume whole, healthy fruits and vegetables, which are key for healthy growth and brain development in children. “Healthy eating fuels the brain and leads to improved academic performance and emotional well-being. Scratch cooking brings fresh, nutritious meals into schools and strengthens local partnerships with farmers and producers, said Congresswoman Hayes. “The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act is a comprehensive way to create healthy eating habits at an early age, which students can carry well into adulthood.” “School nutrition is local health infrastructure. It shapes how children learn, how families are supported, and how communities invest in the next generation. Through our work with local schools, nutrition professionals, farmers, and community partners, we have seen that many districts want to serve fresher, healthier meals, but need the tools, training, and local partnerships to make that shift sustainable. This effort will help close that gap, so more children have access to healthy meals that support their learning and reflect a community-wide commitment to their future,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “With increasingly limited funding, school districts across the country are struggling to provide students with consistent access to healthy food options,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. “Scratch cooking helps address this challenge by giving school food programs the tools to prepare healthier, more sustainable meals while empowering local schools to serve hearty, nutritious food made with fresh ingredients. I am grateful for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes’ leadership on this important issue, and I am proud to work alongside her to ensure school meal programs across the country can nourish children, support their long-term health and success, and help build a more sustainable future for their generation and generations to come.” "Fresh and nutritious food should be accessible for students across America, and school meals are often one of the most reliable sources of nutrition for kids. I'm proud to join Representatives Hayes, Fitzpatrick, and Brownley to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expand federal funding so schools have more resources to prepare healthier meals for young Americans,” said Senator Schiff. The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act has been endorsed by the Chef Ann Foundation, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), National Education Association (NEA), School Nutrition Association (SNA), and School Nutrition Association of Connecticut, and ScratchWorks.