Schiff Co-Introduces Legislation To Combat Hunger on Community College Campuses

Pasadena Congressional Representative Adam Schiff recently co-introduced legislation that would provide free nutritious meals to community college students.

Under the Food for Thought Act 2022, the Secretary of Education will be authorized to award grants to community colleges and minority-serving institutions.

Aside from being used to fund free meals for low-income students, the grant funds may also be used for conducting campus outreach on eligibility for federal food assistance programs, operating on-campus food pantries and community gardens, and updating or purchasing critical food infrastructure including refrigerators and microwaves for student use.

Under the Food for Thought Act 2022, grantees would collect and report data on the prevalence of food insecurity on their campuses to inform and expand national anti-hunger programming and end student hunger.

“Young people are working so hard to be able to pursue the dream of higher education – yet far too often, challenges like food insecurity force them to make impossible choices between staying in school and feeding themselves or their families,” said Schiff. “The Food for Thought Act will help ease the burden of hunger for potentially hundreds of thousands of young people so that they can focus fully on their studies and their futures.”

“Food insecurity disproportionately impacts students of color on college campuses, and is often exacerbated by additional expenses such as tuition, books, and housing,” said Barragán. “I am proud to join Representative Schiff on the Food For Thought Act to address hunger at community colleges and Minority Serving Institutions, so every student no matter their income can concentrate on earning their degree, not worry about where their next meal will come from.”

The Food for Thought Act of 2022 is cosponsored by representatives Nanette Diaz Barragán, Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velázquez, Jim McGovern, and Adam Smith, among others.