Congress can stop lunch shaming

Fast action from Congress can be rare in these days of gridlock. And introduction of legislation, of course, is no guarantee of swift passage. However, a bill sponsored by the New Mexico Democratic delegation in Congress deserves a fast track into law.

On Monday, Democratic Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, as well as Democratic Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Luján, introduced bipartisan companion bills in the Senate and House to end the practice of schools shaming children whose school lunch bills aren’t paid.

That legislation already is on the federal radar is quick action, in and of itself, given that New Mexico became the first state to approve such a law this year, passing the Hunger-Free Students’ Bill of Rights. By asking schools to make the process, Congress should follow New Mexico’s example so that in this nation of plenty, children don’t go hungry because of the actions of adults.

The federal legislation, the Anti-Lunch Shaming Act, would ban schools from singling out children whose parents have not paid their school meal bills. If passed or signed into law, schools could no longer do such things as throw away hot meals while a child watches, hand out cold sandwiches, make the children do chores to pay for lunch, and in some places, wear a wristband or hand stamp signaling they have unpaid bills.

Almost as important as not shaming children, the legislation pushes schools to communicate better with parents. Grownups, after all, should bear the brunt of any dunning, not children. By asking schools to make the process of applying for free and reduced-price lunches easier, Congress is making it clear it expects school districts to try and sign up all eligible children. That way, families will have an easier time staying current with lunch bills. School districts suffer when bills are not paid, but the Congressional legislation is urging local officials to make it easier for parents to pay — setting up online systems, if possible.

We are proud of New Mexico’s Democratic members of Congress for backing this important legislation. There’s a Republican co-sponsor as well, Rep. Rodney Davis of Illinois, so this is a bipartisan issue, just as it was in New Mexico. GOP Gov. Susana Martinez signed the bill, and the Democratic Legislature passed it. Democratic Senate Whip Michael Padilla of Albuquerque deserves particular credit for his championing of the cause, and for the admirable way he has told the story of the legislation on television and in newspapers since it passed. This cause has brought New Mexico the right kind of national attention.

Local advocacy group New Mexico Appleseed — backers of the original legislation — is getting behind this national effort as well. As Executive Director Jennifer Ramo said, “All of the pencils and books and desks in the world don’t matter if children are hungry and can’t focus.”