On March 15, the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee held a hearing on school nutrition programs.
Describing the programs as “a key component of our efforts to provide healthy, nutritious meals to our nation’s schoolchildren,” Chair Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) noted that “over 1.5 billion school breakfasts and over 4.8 billion school lunches were served in 2004. Of these meals, over 82% of the breakfasts and over 59% of the lunches were served to children from low-income families, for which the overwhelming number of these meals were served as free.” He stated, “For some of these children, the School Nutrition Programs may be the healthiest, most balanced meals of their entire day.”
Ranking Member Tom Harkin (D-IA) highlighted the role of local school wellness policies, established under the Child Nutrition and WIC [Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children] Reauthorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-265) (see The Source 6/25/04). “These wellness policies will include goals for nutrition education and physical activity, as well as nutritional guidelines for all the foods sold and made available on school grounds,” he explained, adding that the “legislation gives local communities the authority to set the standards themselves, according to local needs.” Sen. Harkin warned that nutrition programs, particularly the Food Stamp Program, are at risk of having their funding reduced and pointed out that “the Food Stamp Program is our nation’s largest child nutrition program. Fifty percent of food stamp participants are children and 80 percent of food stamp benefits go to families with children.”
Former committee member Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) testified before the committee, stressing the importance of school nutrition programs and the need to avoid budget cuts. “We know that child nutrition and education are inextricably linked,” she stated. “It’s really fairly simple: When children are hungry they do not learn.” Sen. Dole said that she was “encouraged that the President’s proposed budget does not involve program cuts or budget caps for child nutrition,” and she expressed her hope that the committee would “ensure that the fundamental mission of these programs is not compromised.” She also argued for legislation that would eliminate the reduced price fee under the School Lunch and Breakfast programs. “Last year’s child nutrition legislation authorized a pilot program funded from discretionary dollars to eliminate the reduced price fee in up to 5 states,” Sen. Dole explained. “It is imperative that we begin to make headway on eliminating the reduced price category as a part of our national commitment to eliminating hunger and nutritional deficiencies among the children of this country.” Sen. Dole requested an appropriation of $29 million for the program. “If a family qualifies for free WIC benefits, they should also qualify for free school meals. It just makes sense, and I fundamentally believe this is the right thing to do,” she declared.
School Nutrition Association President Karen Johnson affirmed, “Research has demonstrated that children who choose school meals have better diets than children who don’t. They consume more fruits, vegetables and milk, and have fewer overall calories from fat.” She requested that “these programs be exempted from any reconciliation or budget cap.” Ms. Johnson voiced SNA support for Sen. Dole’s proposed $29 million appropriation to fund the elimination of the reduced price program, stating, “For too many families…the reduced price fee of 40 cents per meal per child for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast is simply too much money and therefore a barrier to participation.” Addressing the needs of the Summer Food Service Program, Ms. Johnson said the SNA encourages Congress to expand a pilot program designed to attract more sponsors by reducing paperwork. She also recommended an appropriation of “50 cents per child per year for nutrition education and nutrition promotion.”
Referring to the wellness policies mentioned by Sen. Harkin, SNA President-elect Ruth Jonen said that the SNA recently established a task force to help local school districts develop their nutritional goals and guidelines. Ms. Jonen described successful working models in Arizona and added that the SNA is working with the Iowa Department of Education to create workshops that help schools understand their responsibilities.
Annette Bomar Hopgood, director of the School and Community Nutrition Program of the Georgia Department of Education, described the successful “grab-n-go” breakfast program in Thomas County, Georgia. In some schools, the program serves breakfast in the classroom to almost 100 percent of the students, including 55 percent of fee-reduced students. Ms. Hopgood attributed the success to exceptional leadership and close collaboration with school principals and teachers.
During the question and answer period, Sen. Chambliss noted that “kids can sometimes be picky,” and asked if it was difficult to find foods children want to eat. Ms. Johnson described creative ways of serving healthy food, such as pizza with low-fat cheese and low-fat milk. Sen. Harkin emphasized the importance of fresh fruits and vegetables for children, applauding a pilot project which provides fresh fruits and vegetables to students free of charge. Operating in 250 schools in 8 states, Sen. Harkin said that students not only eat “oranges, apples and bananas,” but also “fresh broccoli and fresh spinach.” As a result, he said, they are happier and learning better. Ms. Johnson said the SNA “absolutely” supports this program.
