On March 4, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Education Reform approved, by voice vote, a bill (H.R. 3873) to reauthorize child nutrition programs set to expire later this year.
Sponsored by Chair Michael Castle (R-DE), the Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act would authorize such sums as necessary to carry out the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the After School Snack Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program through FY2008.
H.R. 3873 would streamline the process by which students qualify for free and reduced lunches. It would provide direct certification for children of food stamp and welfare recipients and would allow parents to submit a single application for more than one child. In addition, parents would be allowed to file electronically.
To address the rise of child obesity, the bill would require schools to develop “wellness programs” that set standards for nutrition education and physical activity, and establish nutritional guidelines for all food sold on campus. H.R. 3873 also would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop model nutritional guidelines for all food sold in schools.
Finally, the measure would incorporate a bill (H.R. 2227) sponsored by Rep. Castle that would authorize grants to fund pilot programs aimed at encouraging the development and implementation of programs to promote healthy eating and increased physical activity among children.
