Moulton Cosponsors Summer Meals for Kids Act to Fight Childhood Hunger

WASHINGTON, DC– Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) joined as a cosponsor of the Summer Meals for Kids Act to ensure every state opts in to the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) program, which is designed to provide food aid to kids during the summer months.

Each summer, millions of children across the U.S. face hunger when school meals are no longer available. Summer EBT fills that gap, but some states choose to opt out of this federal program. The Summer Meals for Kids Act would integrate Summer EBT into the National School Lunch Program to provide critical nutrition support both during the school year and summer. 

“When the school year ends, a child's access to nutritious food shouldn't end with it,” said Congressman Moulton.“Summer EBT is a proven lifeline for families, yet too many kids are being left behind because of political gamesmanship. By making summer meals a standard, nationwide extension of the National School Lunch Program, we are ensuring that no child’s nutrition depends on their zip code. Food security is a year-round necessity, and it’s time our federal programs treated it that way.”

Under the bill:  

• Summer EBT benefits would become a standard part of the National School Lunch Program during the summer months.
• Eligible families would automatically receive benefits through electronic benefit transfer or other approved methods, ensuring uninterrupted access to nutritious food when school meals are unavailable.
• States would submit administration and management plans to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure effective implementation of Summer EBT.
• The current state-by-state opt-in structure for Summer EBT would be replaced with a nationwide participation stipulation tied to the National School Lunch Program.

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