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School Hunger Elimination Act: Free Meals and Easier Access

This act aims to make it easier for low-income children to access free or reduced-price school meals. It introduces automatic qualification for the lunch program for children receiving social benefits and expands free meal programs to entire states through pilot projects. Families who previously paid for meals but whose children now qualify for free meals may receive refunds.
Key points
More children will automatically receive free school meals if their families receive certain social benefits, without needing to submit additional applications.
Schools will be able to receive reimbursement for meals for children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, even if their status changed during the school year, and families may receive refunds for previously paid fees.
Selected states can launch pilot programs where all school meals in high-poverty areas will be free for all students, regardless of family income.
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Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_2664
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]
Process start date: 2021-08-05
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

School Hunger Elimination Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_2664.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-08-05.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • More children will automatically receive free school meals if their families receive certain social benefits, without needing to submit additional applications.
  • Schools will be able to receive reimbursement for meals for children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, even if their status changed during the school year, and families may receive refunds for previously paid fees.
  • Selected states can launch pilot programs where all school meals in high-poverty areas will be free for all students, regardless of family income.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

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Education Benefits Family