[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 96 (Monday, June 8, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S2662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I rise to recognize the 80th anniversary 
of the National School Lunch Act. Eight decades after President Harry 
S. Truman signed the legislation into law, we celebrate a program that 
has nourished generations of American children and helped build a 
stronger, healthier, and more prosperous nation.
  As a former public school board member, I have seen firsthand the 
powerful connection between nutrition and learning. Children who have 
access to healthy meals are better prepared to succeed in the 
classroom, participate in extracurricular activities, and reach their 
full potential. That simple truth has guided the program.
  Arkansas is proud to be part of this success story. Every school day, 
school meal programs serve hundreds of thousands of Arkansas students, 
giving them access to the nutrition necessary to learn, grow, and 
thrive. These meals not only support academic achievement but also 
promote long-term health and well-being.
  We have also worked to build on the success of the National School 
Lunch Act and extend nutrition support beyond the school year. The 
Hunger-Free Summer for Kids Act, signed into law in 2022, delivered the 
most significant modernization of summer feeding programs in more than 
60 years. By permanently expanding noncongregate meal options, the law 
helps ensure that children in rural and underserved communities can 
continue receiving nutritious meals when school is out of session.
  These efforts built on a long, bipartisan tradition of strengthening 
child nutrition programs, including support for school breakfast 
programs, summer meal initiatives, and policies that connect America's 
farmers, ranchers, and producers with the schools that serve our 
children every day.
  The mission of the National School Lunch Act remains as important as 
ever. The program continues to nourish children in Arkansas and all 
across the country and invest in the future of our Nation.
  Eighty years of feeding hungry students, supporting families, and 
creating opportunities for success is a record worth celebrating. I 
look forward to building on that legacy for generations to come.

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