Attorney General Aaron Ford Statement on National School Lunch Week
Attorney General Aaron Ford released the following statement in recognition of National School Lunch Week:
“At a time when one in four children in Nevada don’t know where their next meal is going to come from and families across our state are struggling to make ends meet, we as elected officials must do all we can to ensure our students are fed.
“As a kid, I grew up with parents who worked hard but still struggled to put food on the table. There were nights when my brother and I ate stale candy bars for dinner. I would often times sneak those candy bars into the lunchroom so I had something to eat at school. And now, Donald Trump is cutting SNAP benefits for tens of thousands of Nevadans.
“When given the opportunity to prioritize our students, Joe Lombardo vetoed a bill that would have guaranteed school meals for all of Nevada’s students and instead spent $25 million on new office furniture — forcing Washoe County parents to accrue more than $100,000 in school lunch debt. Guaranteeing school meals would ensure that children receive quality meals while putting money back in parents’ pockets.
“As a father and former educator, I know that students having access to school meals makes a sizable impact on students’ educational attainment, specifically by improving student health and attendance, reducing disciplinary infractions, and increasing test scores among marginalized groups of students.
“As Governor, I will guarantee school meals and feed our kids.”
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