On March 10, the House Education and the Workforce Committee approved, 42-0, a bill (H.R. 3873) to reauthorize child nutrition programs set to expire later this year. The Subcommittee on Education Reform approved the measure on March 4 (see The Source, 3/5/04).
In his opening remarks, Chair John Boehner (R-OH) stated, “The federal child nutrition programs ensure millions of needy children…access to healthy and nutritious meals. The investment in these programs is considerable, and so is our obligation to ensure our federal resources are being used effectively and efficiently. Children and families depend on federal child nutrition programs, and they depend on us to ensure these programs are being administered with integrity.”
Sponsored by Rep. 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 (WIC), 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 price 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.
During consideration of the bill, the committee approved, by voice vote, an en bloc amendment by Rep. Boehner that would expand the fruit and vegetable pilot program in an additional three states; increase meal reimbursement rates in high poverty areas; require states to have policies to contain the costs of WIC supplemental foods; and allow schools to provide meals year round in exchange for lower reimbursements for summer meals.
The committee defeated, 18-25, an amendment by Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) that would have given the secretary of agriculture the authority to set nutritional criteria for all foods sold on school campuses. The amendment also would have directed the secretary to review and revise the definition of “minimal nutritional value.”
Prior to final approval, the committee approved, by voice vote, a substitute amendment by Rep. Castle that would authorize an independent evaluation of the Team Nutrition program; provide automatic certification for migrant children; prohibit schools from restricting the sale of milk anywhere on campus; encourage breastfeeding among WIC participants; and renew the fruit and vegetable pilot program.
