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Watch: Free breakfast and lunch in school. That’s what Democratic senators wanted for Wisconsin kids.

By UpNorthNews Staff

March 20, 2026

Free breakfast and lunch in school. That’s what Democratic senators wanted for Wisconsin kids.

But the “Healthy School Meals for All” proposal was blocked by Assembly Republicans… again.

Democratic Sen. Sarah Keyeski of Lodi and others introduced the legislation to reduce family food costs, eliminate hunger-related stigma, and support local farmers by funding universal, nutritious meals amidst historic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” last summer.

Blockage of the legislation comes as the majority-Republican House Agriculture Committee advanced a new Farm Bill that doesn’t reverse those cuts.

As a result, millions more people could go hungry—many of them children.

SNAP cuts will also strip children of school food assistance. When families lose SNAP benefits now, their kids also lose automatic eligibility for free and reduced meals at school.

Having to apply directly for school meals increases the administrative burden on schools and forces families to tackle complex paperwork.

The Healthy School Meals for All act would have provided critical help, but this marks the third straight legislative session where Republicans refused to even bring it up for a vote.

✏️: Salina Heller

Author

CATEGORIES: Politics Video
Politics Video
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