Senate Hold Hearing on Child Nutrition Program
Lincoln committed to ensuring children have enough to eat.
Compiled by staff
Published: Nov 18, 2009
Senate Ag committee Chairman Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., gaveled to order her first committee hearing on the reauthorization of federal child nutrition programs. In her opening statement, Lincoln said the Committee undertakes this task at a difficult time. Noting the release of the Department of Agriculture's annual report on hunger and food insecurity, she said the report talks about families that are either hungry or a meal or two away from being hungry.
"We must take steps to ensure that all children eligible for federal child nutrition programs are actually receiving them," Lincoln said. "Despite the fact that programs such as the School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs have been around for decades, there remain many children who could be participating but do not."
Lincoln went on to say that the nutritional quality of the meal benefits provided through child nutrition programs must be improved and ensuring that children have enough to eat should be a hallmark of a fundamentally decent society.
"Federal nutrition programs are not only important tools to combat hunger, but also effective in the promotion of healthy lifestyles and curbing obesity," said the ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga. "We need to recognize that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be in the best interest of our schools or children."
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