[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 362 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 362

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                         March 4, 2010.
Whereas the National School Lunch Program is declared to be the policy of the 
        United States Congress, as a measure of national security, to safeguard 
        the health and well-being of the Nation's children and to encourage the 
        domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other 
        food, by assisting the States, through grants-in-aid and other means, in 
        providing an adequate supply of food and other facilities for the 
        establishment, maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit school 
        lunch programs;
Whereas Federal regulations further state that participating schools shall 
        ensure that children gain a full understanding of the relationship 
        between proper eating and good health;
Whereas local educational agencies are responsible for collaborating with the 
        school community to implement comprehensive nutrition and wellness 
        policies in schools that participate in the National School Lunch 
        Program;
Whereas all of the Nation's more than 49,000,000 pupils deserve access to high-
        quality, safe, nutritious meals available in the school setting, 
        recognizing the link between adequate nourishment and educational 
        performance;
Whereas children that experience hunger have been shown to be more likely to 
        have lower math scores, decreased attentiveness, increased likelihood of 
        repeating a grade, increased absences and tardiness, and more referrals 
        to special education services;
Whereas in 2009, the National School Lunch Program in the United States provided 
        over 31,000,000 meals to school children daily, and must comply with 
        rigorous State and Federal requirements, provide adequate food 
        preparation and dining facilities, and cover costs to provide 
        reimbursable meals including food, energy, transportation, labor, and 
        other costs;
Whereas the National School Lunch Program must provide nutritious meals that are 
        consistent with the goals of the most recent Dietary Guidelines for 
        Americans;
Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Sciences 
        recommends increased amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in 
        the National School Lunch Program, and that measures to improve the 
        quality of meals may increase program costs and the need for 
        administrative support;
Whereas school food service must operate on a nonprofit basis, and it is 
        expected that the Federal subsidy for a free meal will, on average, 
        cover the costs of producing a reimbursable meal;
Whereas the U.S. Department of Agriculture identified that the full cost to 
        produce a reimbursable lunch generally exceeds the Federal reimbursement 
        for a free lunch; and
Whereas revenue deficits in school meal programs must be offset by generating 
        additional revenue from other sources that may otherwise support 
        classroom instruction: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of the National School Lunch 
        Program; and
            (2) recognizes that America's pupils deserve access to high-quality, 
        safe, nutritious meals available in the school setting.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.