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Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) has issued a personal video thanks to CHA and Our Health California (OHC) — CHA’s online community of Californians with an interest in public health — for mobilizing to support a bill that helps ensure school children have adequate access to nutritious meals.
Signed by Gov. Newsom last fall, the new law is intended to prevent situations where school meal programs pressure students who have fallen behind in paying for their meals — a practice often referred to as “lunch shaming.”
Strong support from the OHC community generated nearly 3,500 emails and more than 480 tweets urging the Governor to sign the measure, Senate Bill (SB) 265, authored by Hertzberg.
OHC took on the issue because hunger and health are deeply connected. For children, not having enough healthy food can have serious consequences for physical and mental health, academic achievement, and future economic prosperity.
In addition to raising awareness around the harmful impacts of food insecurity, activating support for SB 265 allowed Our Health California and CHA to build a broader set of relationships with lawmakers.