HR 169 — A Resolution designating the month of September 2025 as "Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Month" in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.    1242

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



              HOUSE RESOLUTION
                 No. 169
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY MERSKI, KAZEEM, MADDEN, WAXMAN, HARKINS, GIRAL,
        FREEMAN, ISAACSON, NEILSON, KHAN, HILL-EVANS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ,
        KENYATTA, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, CERRATO, HOHENSTEIN, RIVERA,
        O'MARA, MENTZER AND CONKLIN, APRIL 3, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 3, 2025


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating the month of September 2025 as "Healthy Hunger-Free
 2      Kids Month" in Pennsylvania.
 3         WHEREAS, Hunger is a reality for many students, with one in
 4   six children in this Commonwealth experiencing severe hunger;
 5   and
 6         WHEREAS, Nearly 14 million children in the United States live
 7   in food-insecure homes, where there is not enough food for every
 8   family member; and
 9         WHEREAS, We are fighting not only hunger in our children, but
10   also millions of tons of food waste; and
11         WHEREAS, Nearly 30 million school lunches are served daily
12   across the nation; and
13         WHEREAS, An estimated 530,000 tons of food, about 39 pounds
14   per student, and 45 million gallons of milk, about 29 cartons
15   per student, are wasted per year in school cafeterias; and
16         WHEREAS, The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act went into effect
17   in December 2010; and
 1      WHEREAS, Under the act, students must take a certain number
 2   of items, including a fruit or vegetable; and
 3      WHEREAS, Schools must serve the same size meals to
 4   kindergarteners, for whom the lunch might be too much, and older
 5   students, for whom it might not be enough; and
 6      WHEREAS, Research shows that many students are throwing the
 7   required healthier options into the trash; and
 8      WHEREAS, Share tables are a place where students can return
 9   unopened food and drinks that they choose not to consume so that
10   other students may take additional helpings at no cost; and
11      WHEREAS, Share tables are an excellent way for child
12   nutrition programs to reduce food waste and provide nutrition
13   for hungry kids; and
14      WHEREAS, Share tables are an innovative strategy to encourage
15   the consumption of nutritious foods and reduce food waste;
16   therefore be it
17      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
18   month of September 2025 as "Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Month" in
19   Pennsylvania.




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