Pennsylvania HR 485: A Resolution designating the month of September 2026 as "Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Month" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 3241
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 485
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MERSKI, HARKINS, CONKLIN, HOHENSTEIN, KHAN,
PASHINSKI, ISAACSON, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, FREEMAN, RIVERA,
WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS, GALLAGHER, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, NEILSON,
CIRESI AND CURRY, APRIL 20, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 21, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2026 as "Healthy Hunger-Free
Kids Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Hunger is a reality for many students, with one in
six children in this Commonwealth experiencing severe hunger;
and
WHEREAS, In 2024, nearly 7.3 million children in the United
States lived in food-insecure homes, and 18.3 million households
were food insecure at some point; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, one in six children experienced
food insecurity, and food insecurity was a daily part of life
for nearly 1.7 million Pennsylvanians; and
WHEREAS, We are fighting not only hunger in our children, but
also millions of tons of food waste; and
WHEREAS, Nearly 30 million school lunches are served daily
across the nation; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 530,000 tons of food, about 39 pounds
per student, and 45 million gallons of milk, about 29 cartons
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per student, are wasted per year in school cafeterias; and
WHEREAS, The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act went into effect
in December 2010; and
WHEREAS, Under the act, students must take a certain number
of items, including a fruit or vegetable; and
WHEREAS, Schools must serve the same size meals to
kindergarteners, for whom the lunch might be too much, and older
students, for whom it might not be enough; and
WHEREAS, Research shows that many students are throwing the
required healthier options into the trash; and
WHEREAS, Share tables are a place where students can return
unopened food and drinks that they choose not to consume so that
other students may take additional helpings at no cost; and
WHEREAS, Share tables are an excellent way for child
nutrition programs to reduce food waste and provide nutrition
for hungry kids; and
WHEREAS, Share tables are an innovative strategy to encourage
the consumption of nutritious foods and reduce food waste;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of September 2026 as "Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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