On March 24, the House approved, 419-5, a bill (H.R. 3873) to reauthorize child nutrition programs set to expire later this year. The House Education and the Workforce Committee approved the measure on March 10 (see The Source, 3/12/04).
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 automatic certification for migrant children and 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.
The measure would require states to have policies to contain the costs of WIC supplemental foods and encourage breastfeeding among WIC participants.
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. The measure would renew the fruit and vegetable pilot program and expand it into an additional three states. It also would prohibit schools from restricting the sale of milk anywhere on campus. In addition, H.R. 3873 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.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) lauded the inclusion of provisions in the bill to address child obesity. “Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past twenty years resulting in children suffering from early onset of traditionally adult diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease,” she stated. “Meal programs offered in schools, childcare settings, after-school and summer programs, and through WIC offer an ideal way to address these child health issues head-on.”
Explaining that obesity can lead to breast cancer and pregnancy complications, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) stated, “Government-imposed guidelines can only do so much to prevent childhood obesity. If we really want to make a difference, we must focus on educating youth and their parents about the need to eat right and be physically active. Parents and their children must be acutely aware of the dangers of being overweight or obese.”
