WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the Student Food Security Act of 2024, bicameral legislation to address food insecurity faced by college students nationwide.
According to a recent survey, nearly 40% of community college students are food insecure, over half are housing insecure, and 18% have experienced homelessness. These factors negatively impact student success and graduation rates.
Typically, college students face severe restrictions on their ability to access and use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits unless they meet certain conditions, such as working more than 20 hours per week or having young children. This barrier ignores the reality of the college student population, a majority of whom are “non-traditional” – students older than 25 and independent from their parents who are often juggling school, work, and family responsibilities. The GAO report also found almost 60% of potentially eligible students were not enrolled in SNAP, highlighting how current eligibility requirements are leaving food-insecure students behind.
The Student Food Security Act would support food-insecure students by expanding eligibility for SNAP, allowing students to use SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities, increasing outreach by federal and state agencies to food-insecure students, and establishing an annual grant program to aid colleges and universities in better identifying and serving students with food and housing needs.
“For too long, students at colleges and universities have suffered food insecurity without proper support from federal and state governments. As we work to end hunger, it is crucial we invest in programs that provide college students with access to healthy, nutritious meals so they can succeed in the classroom and beyond,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “College students in my district and nationwide have asked for our help, and it is time we delivered. The Student Food Security Act is a comprehensive proposal to address food insecurity among college students by expanding access to SNAP, investing in outreach programs to meet students where they are, and investing $1 billion annually to ensure colleges and universities have the tools they need to help house and feed students in need.”
“Students should be able to focus on their education without constantly making tough choices between the costs of housing, food, healthcare, or their education. As college expenses continue to rise, it is disheartening to see the sacrifices students are making, including going hungry or homeless, just to go to college. The Student Food Security Act will confront the issue of hunger among college students by broadening federal food assistance eligibility, establishing a grant program to support students with institution-driven programs, and instructing the Department of Education to gather data on food and housing insecurity,” said Congresswoman Torres. “As a mother and grandmother, this is personal for me and that's why I created a federal funding stream that has already delivered over $29 million to help colleges address student hunger. I want to see more students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, receive these benefits and aspire to seek higher education and that's exactly what this bill will do.”
Specifically, the Student Food Security Act:
- Increases the SNAP eligibility of low-income college students by expanding eligibility to students who qualify for work study, have a $0 Student Aid Index, meet the financial eligibility criteria for a maximum Pell Grant (even if they have not filed the FAFSA), or are an independent student whose household is otherwise eligible. This would make permanent an expansion of SNAP eligibility that was first enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Increases outreach to eligible students by directing the U.S. Department of Education to work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and other relevant agencies to notify students they may be eligible for benefits when they file their application for federal student aid.
- Requires the Department of Education to collect data on food and housing insecurity.
- Creates a SNAP student hunger demonstration program to allow students to use their SNAP benefits at on-campus dining facilities at up to ten institutions.
- Establishes a $1 billion per year grant program to help institutions of higher education identify and meet the basic needs of their students, such as food, housing, childcare, etc. Grants can be used for research, planning, and implementation of strategies which educate students on federal, state, local, and tribal assistance programs. Institutions with increased numbers of Pell Grant recipients will be prioritized. At least 25% of grants must go to community colleges, and at least 25% must go to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions.
The Student Food Security Act has been co-sponsored in the House by Representatives Alma Adams, PhD. (NC-12), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), Cori Bush (MO-01), Troy Carter (LA-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), David Trone (MD-06), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).
In the Senate, Senators Richard Blumenthal (C-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) are co-sponsors of the bill.
Additionally, the Student Food Security Act has been endorsed by Connecticut Foodshare and End Hunger CT!, two leading anti-hunger organizations in Connecticut, alongside The Hope Center at Temple University, Alliance to End Hunger, National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Feeding America, Bread for the World, National Center on Housing and Child Welfare, Hunger Free America, the Education Trust, Institute for Higher Education Policy, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), New America Higher Education Program, SchoolHouse Connection, Swipe Out Hunger, New Mexico Basic Needs Consortium, Nourish Colorado, Nourish California, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, Greater Boston Food Bank, GRACE/End Child Poverty California, Oregon Student Association, MA Hunger Free Campus Coalition, Hildreth Institute, One Family, The Open Door, uAspire, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, Hunger Free Vermont, Food for People, NJPIRG Students, William E. Morris Institute for Justice, California Association of Food Banks, Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges, Project Bread, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Basic Needs Oregon, CLASP, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, MASSPIRG Students, River City Food Bank, Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, San Diego Hunger Coalition, American Council on Education (ACE), Vermont Foodbank, Young Invincibles, National College Attainment Network, California Competes, Alchemist Community Development Corporation, The Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice at SNHU, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Women’s Law Center, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, California Community Colleges, Linn-Benton Community College, Portland Community College, University of California, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, and all 15 Massachusetts community colleges (Bristol, Bunker Hill, Cape Cod, Holyoke, MassBay, Massasoit, Middlesex, North Shore, Northern Essex, Quinsigamond, Roxbury, Springfield Technical, Berkshire, Greenfield, and Mt. Wachusett).
“The provisions and necessary improvements outlined in the Student Food Security Act would have an immense, positive impact on not just our neighbors pursuing higher education but on the entire community. Currently, only around 50% of individuals experiencing food insecurity in Connecticut meet the eligibility requirements for SNAP. Improving access to this program is a benefit for everyone across the state- putting more food on the tables of our neighbors, alleviating pressure on food banks and food pantries and ensuring that our students can focus more of their energy on their education.” said Jason Jakubowski, President & CEO, Connecticut Foodshare.
"The Student Food Security Act of 2024 is vital for helping college students get the food they need. We applaud Congresswoman Hayes’ continued commitment to increase food security and support students’ success with this proposal,” said Julieth Callejas, Executive Director of End Hunger CT!. “By making it easier to access SNAP benefits and providing more support, this bill ensures students can focus on their studies without worrying about hunger."
A one-pager on the Student Food Security Act can be found here, and the full bill text can be found here.