The Universal School Meals Program Act has been teased by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Ilhan Omar since 2019 but was introduced in 2021. This bill promises to increase schools' reimbursement rates to $2.72 for breakfast and $3.81 for lunch and dinner, offer a $0.30 per meal incentive for schools that have at least 30% local products, and a less strict eligibility requirement for summer meal programs without explicitly stating how much it could cost the country or a way to fund it.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference last week to announce herself as another co-sponsor and teased the bill could see more action soon.This came just before Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said lawmakers must raise the debt ceiling by June 1 or risk a default on U.S. debt obligations. When exactly the U.S. would run out of money remains uncertain.