Oregon – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon has teamed with other colleagues to support the Student Food Security Act of 2024 in what appears to be a major effort to solve food hunger on college campuses. This law seeks to significantly improve students experiencing financial difficulties’ access to nutritional support while they are still in college.
Democrat Senator Wyden underlined the need of letting young people focus on their studies free from the weight of food shortage.
“College alone is a big enough challenge for students,” Wyden said. “Students shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can afford a meal. We need to ensure that students seeking opportunities are set up for success, and that includes giving them access to nutritious meals.”
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Many college students today find it difficult to qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits because of strict requirements such as working more than 20 hours a week or having dependents. A Government Accountability Office analysis revealed that about 60% of students who might be qualified for SNAP are not getting benefits, therefore highlighting a notable discrepancy in support.

By extending the qualifying requirements for SNAP among college students, the proposed laws aims to close this disparity. Important clauses cover extending SNAP eligibility to students qualified for work-study programs, those with a $0 Student Aid Index, students qualifying for maximum Pell Grants regardless of FAFSA submission, and independent students from low-income households.
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Furthermore, the measure suggests creative ways to make sure students are aware of and can access these benefits. This involves improved cooperation between the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to notify students about their potential eligibility through applications for federal student aid.
The Student Food Security Act’s introduction of a SNAP student hunger demonstration program stands out. This would let participants use their benefits at on-campus eating facilities in up to ten chosen universities.
The law would also create a $1 billion yearly grant program meant to help colleges and universities find and meet their students’ fundamental needs—food, housing, and childcare among other things. Community colleges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities, and other minority-serving institutions would have priority for these grants such that at least 25% of the money is directed to these groups.
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Senators Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy, Alex Padilla, Bernie Sanders, John Fetterman, Richard Blumenthal, Dick Durbin, Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen, and Peter Welch co-sponsor the measure, thus attesting to broad support across several states and party boundaries. Their combined efforts highlight a growing awareness of the vital need to assist food security among college students, thereby enabling them to pursue their academic goals free from further stress related to food poverty.