Press Releases

WORCESTER, MASS—Today, Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02), a nationally-recognized champion in the fight to end hunger, released the following statement after the Massachusetts State House of Representatives and Senate passed a Fiscal Year 2024 budget that includes universal free school meals for all Bay State students:

“I’m extra proud to be from Massachusetts today. In our Commonwealth, under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll administration, we recognize that our kids are 100% of our future. They should be learning, growing, and thriving—not worrying about where their next meal will come from or how to pay their lunch debt. If signed into law, free universal school meals will literally change lives, full stop. No child in Massachusetts will ever have to wonder how to get through the school day on an empty stomach. Thank you to Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Representative Andy Vargas, and all the amazing advocates who made this happen—including Project Bread and the Feed Kids Coalition. Now we keep pushing to take this policy nationwide and continue building on the momentum of last year’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The promise of this country ought to be that no child ever goes hungry in any school.”

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