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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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