Vainieri Huttle, Jasey & Quijano Measure Urging Federal Enactment of ‘CARE for Kids Act of 2019’ Clears Committee

(TRENTON) – To provide automatic eligibility for free school meals to children being raised by grandparents or other relatives not their parents, the Assembly Education Committee advanced a measure (AR-169) on Monday to urge the U.S. President and Congress to enact the ‘CARE for Kids Act of 2019.’

Resolution sponsors, Assemblywomen Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), Mila Jasey (D-Essex, Morris) and Annette Quijano (D-Union), issued the following joint statement:

“There are countless children in New Jersey and across the country who rely on the healthy, nutritious breakfast and lunch they get served in school through federal meals programs. Passage of the CARE for Kids Act would expanding automatic eligibility for free meals to students in the care of their grandparents or other family members. In doing so, it would provide food security for children who’ve recently left foster care and for those who’ve found home with relatives, ensuring fewer gaps in access to nutrition.”