SR0492 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0492 LRB100 12652 MST 25991 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, More than 11% of Illinoisans struggle to provide enough food for their families and more than 17% of children in the State are food insecure, meaning they do not have consistent access to adequate food; and

WHEREAS, There are children in every county of the State who experience food insecurity; and

WHEREAS, No child deserves to go without food, and children who are food insecure suffer from increased risk of chronic diseases, increased rates of behavioral problems, decreased academic achievement, and long-term social and economic impacts; and

WHEREAS, Federal nutrition programs play a pivotal role in helping low-income children access free, healthy meals, including the School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Summer Meals Programs, Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Afterschool Meals Programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, more than 801,000 students depend on a free or reduced-price school lunch, but fewer than half of those kids are getting a school breakfast; and

WHEREAS, Students who eat school breakfast achieve 17.5% higher scores on standardized math tests and attend 1.5 more days of school each year than those who do not; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 2393, Breakfast After the Bell, passed unanimously by both the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives in 2016; it was signed by Governor Rauner, and will be implemented in the 2017-18 school year; and

WHEREAS, The bill will increase school breakfast availability in hundreds of schools, where more than 70% of students are eligible for free and reduced-priced meals; and

WHEREAS, In Illinois, for every 100 children receiving a free or reduced-price lunch at school, only 14 are eating a summer meal; and

WHEREAS, In the summer of 2016, nearly 30 counties in Illinois had zero summer meal program sites, which meant that families struggling with hunger who depended on school lunches and breakfasts had more of a struggle during the summer months; and

WHEREAS, Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites are an ideal model for summer food delivery and provide on-site adult supervision and enrichment activities for children; however, more SFSP sites are needed that are open to the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage schools to offer Breakfast After the Bell to students via alternative delivery methods, such as Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab n' Go, and Second Chance Breakfast; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage elected and community leaders around the State to do everything they can to ensure kids have access to summer meals in their communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge elected leaders to visit one summer meals site in their local area; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage Summer Food Service Program sites to operate as open sites to the community so that all children can access healthy, nutritious meals during the summer; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we are opposed to cuts in funding to federal food and nutrition programs for children and families through the annual federal budget process or any other measures; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, the President of the United States, and the United States Secretary of Agriculture.