HR 485 — A Resolution designating the month of September 2026 as "Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Month" in Pennsylvania.

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
 1   Designating the month of September 2026 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, In 2024, nearly 7.3 million children in the United
 7   States lived in food-insecure homes, and 18.3 million households
 8   were food insecure at some point; and
 9         WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, one in six children experienced
10   food insecurity, and food insecurity was a daily part of life
11   for nearly 1.7 million Pennsylvanians; and
12         WHEREAS, We are fighting not only hunger in our children, but
13   also millions of tons of food waste; and
14         WHEREAS, Nearly 30 million school lunches are served daily
15   across the nation; and
16         WHEREAS, An estimated 530,000 tons of food, about 39 pounds
17   per student, and 45 million gallons of milk, about 29 cartons
 1   per student, are wasted per year in school cafeterias; and
 2      WHEREAS, The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act went into effect
 3   in December 2010; and
 4      WHEREAS, Under the act, students must take a certain number
 5   of items, including a fruit or vegetable; and
 6      WHEREAS, Schools must serve the same size meals to
 7   kindergarteners, for whom the lunch might be too much, and older
 8   students, for whom it might not be enough; and
 9      WHEREAS, Research shows that many students are throwing the
10   required healthier options into the trash; and
11      WHEREAS, Share tables are a place where students can return
12   unopened food and drinks that they choose not to consume so that
13   other students may take additional helpings at no cost; and
14      WHEREAS, Share tables are an excellent way for child
15   nutrition programs to reduce food waste and provide nutrition
16   for hungry kids; and
17      WHEREAS, Share tables are an innovative strategy to encourage
18   the consumption of nutritious foods and reduce food waste;
19   therefore be it
20      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
21   month of September 2026 as "Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Month" in
22   Pennsylvania.




20260HR0485PN3241                 - 2 -