Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-NY-25) led the reintroduction of the Summer Meals and Learning Act. The bill would establish a grant program to keep school libraries open and provide literacy activities at schools that serve free summer meals, helping to close the student achievement gap.
“Far too many children lose access to both nutritious meals and valuable learning opportunities when school lets out for the summer,” said Merkley. “No child should have to start the new school year hungry or academically behind. The Summer Meals and Learning Act builds on a successful model pioneered in Oregon to help communities keep school libraries open, connect kids with healthy meals, and make sure every child can learn, grow, and thrive all year long.”
“Summer break should never mean a child falls behind in school or goes without a healthy meal,” said Morelle. “For too many families, that’s exactly what’s happening. This bill is a simple idea with a real impact: keep kids connected to books, keep school libraries open, and make sure they have healthy meals while they’re there. I’m proud to partner with Senator Merkley once again to give more children the support they need to learn, grow, and succeed.”
Summer learning loss is a challenge in every community, but particularly in underserved neighborhoods. While affluent children often have access to extracurricular activities, too many low-income children lose access to learning opportunities—or never have access to begin with—when school is closed for the summer.
The Summer Meals and Learning Act is modeled after Oregon’s successful summer library grant program. The bicameral legislation would establish a competitive grant program to help schools that serve free summer meals keep their libraries open and provide literacy activities during the summer, expanding access to books, educational activities, and other resources that help students stay engaged while school is out.
In addition to Merkley and Morelle, the Summer Meals and Learning Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM).
The bill is endorsed by the American Library Association, National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), Reading Is Fundamental, and Share Our Strength.
“Funding summer hours for school libraries can help prevent the learning gap between school years, when students are most at risk. The Summer Meals and Learning Act would strengthen students’ minds and bodies at a time of year when both often languish,” said Maria McCauley, American Library Association President.
“Summer learning loss and food insecurity are two sides of the same coin, disproportionately impacting students from lower-income families. For over 30 years, NSLA has championed policies that bridge these disparities. We applaud Senator Merkley and Congressman Morelle for leading the Summer Meals and Learning Act, which brings together natural partners like schools and public libraries to nourish both the minds and bodies of our youth. By pairing academic enrichment with critical summer meals, this legislation equips communities to maximize their resources and empower every child to succeed year-round,” said Aaron Dworkin, National Summer Learning Association CEO.
“Access to healthy meals and meaningful learning opportunities are essential to keeping children on track over the summer. Reading Is Fundamental is proud to support this legislation because every child deserves the chance to keep learning, growing, and thriving year-round,” said Alicia Levi, Reading Is Fundamental President and CEO.
“Summer is often the hungriest time of year for kids, but this is a problem we know how to fix,” said Claire Borzner, director of federal government relations for Share Our Strength and its No Kid Hungry campaign. “This bill will help ensure that children have what they need to learn and grow by helping them access libraries and learning opportunities, in addition to summer meals, when school is out for the summer. This is a win-win for students, families, and educators.”
Merkley has been a longtime leader in securing summertime resources for children across Oregon. He recently led the reintroduction of the Feeding Our Rural Kids (FORK) Act, a bipartisan bill to expand access to summer meals for children in rural communities.
Full text of the Summer Meals and Learning Act can be found by clicking here.
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