Bill would guarantee free lunches for students in need

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The kids are back in school and whatever's on the school lunch menu, like chicken nuggets and gravy or garlic toast, Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) wants to ensure all disadvantaged students have access to school meals.

"It's essential that children are fed. Hungry children do not learn," Hayes said.

Hayes introduced a bill that would automatically certify all school-age students into the National School Lunch Program, if they receive help through programs like Medicaid or SNAP.

"So that there is not another step. There is not a different application. We already know that those families are stressed and vulnerable, and those children are in danger of being food insecure," Hayes said.

The School Nutrition Association reports, more than 95,000 schools utilize the school lunch program. 19 million students receive free lunches and more than one million get reduced prices. 

Hayes says there are more kids who need help, "I don't know any place in this country where this is not an issue."

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) supports the school lunch program.

"There already is a process in place for identifying students, for, free lunch program," Miller-Meeks said, but she is not sure about the legislation.

"Is that the most productive way and most efficient way to go about delivering a program or a service? And then what are the unintended consequences?" Miller-Meeks asked.

Hayes says if passed, states would need to match funding from the federal government.