Floor SpeechBipartisan2026-06-08

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT

John Boozman

RAR · Senator

TaxesEnvironmentTradeEducationAgriculture

Context

On 2026-06-08, Senator John Boozman (R-AR) delivered a floor speech titled "NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT" in the Senate.

Full Text

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2662] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Act. Eight decades after President Harry S. Truman signed the legislation into law, we celebrate a program that has nourished generations of American children and helped build a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous nation. As a former public school board member, I have seen firsthand the powerful connection between nutrition and learning. Children who have access to healthy meals are better prepared to succeed in the classroom, participate in extracurricular activities, and reach their full potential. That simple truth has guided the program. Arkansas is proud to be part of this success story. Every school day, school meal programs serve hundreds of thousands of Arkansas students, giving them access to the nutrition necessary to learn, grow, and thrive. These meals not only support academic achievement but also promote long-term health and well-being. We have also worked to build on the success of the National School Lunch Act and extend nutrition support beyond the school year. The Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act, signed into law in 2022, delivered the most significant modernization of summer feeding programs in more than 60 years. By permanently expanding noncongregate meal options, the law helps ensure that children in rural and underserved communities can continue receiving nutritious meals when school is out of session. These efforts built on a long, bipartisan tradition of strengthening child nutrition programs, including support for school breakfast programs, summer meal initiatives, and policies that connect America's farmers, ranchers, and producers with the schools that serve our children every day. The mission of the National School Lunch Act remains as important as ever. The program continues to nourish children in Arkansas and all across the country and invest in the future of our Nation. Eighty years of feeding hungry students, supporting families, and creating opportunities for success is a record worth celebrating. I look forward to building on that legacy for generations to come. ____________________

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NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2662] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 80th anniversary of the National School Lunch Act. Eight decades after President Harry S. Truman signed the legislation into law, we celebrate a program that has nourished generations of American children and helped build a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous nation. As a former public school board member, I have seen firsthand the powerful connection between nutrition and learning. Children who have access to healthy meals are better prepared to succeed in the classroom, participate in extracurricular activities, and reach their full potential. That simple truth has guided the program. Arkansas is proud to be part of this success story. Every school day, school meal programs serve hundreds of thousands of Arkansas students, giving them access to the nutrition necessary to learn, grow, and thrive. These meals not only support academic achievement but also promote long-term health and well-being. We have also worked to build on the success of the National School Lunch Act and extend nutrition support beyond the school year. The Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act, signed into law in 2022, delivered the most significant modernization of summer feeding programs in more than 60 years. By permanently expanding noncongregate meal options, the law helps ensure that children in rural and underserved communities can continue receiving nutritious meals when school is out of session. These efforts built on a long, bipartisan tradition of strengthening child nutrition programs, including support for school breakfast programs, summer meal initiatives, and policies that connect America's farmers, ranchers, and producers with the schools that serve our children every day. The mission of the National School Lunch Act remains as important as ever. The program continues to nourish children in Arkansas and all across the country and invest in the future of our Nation. Eighty years of feeding hungry students, supporting families, and creating opportunities for success is a record worth celebrating. I look forward to building on that legacy for generations to come. ____________________