Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March as “National CACFP Week”.

Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March as “National CACFP Week”.

Whereas the Department of Agriculture reaffirms the vital role positive nutrition habits play in the healthy growth of children in the United States;

Whereas the Department of Agriculture also recognizes the importance of nutrition education for the most vulnerable and youngest children, as well as adults, through care centers and homes throughout the United States;

Whereas the child and adult care food program (commonly referred to as “CACFP”) provides meals and snacks to more than 4,500,000 children in childcare centers, family daycare homes, emergency shelters, and after-school programs and 120,000 adults in adult daycare centers daily, covering the costs of nearly 1,700,000,000 nutritious meals and snacks each year;

Whereas research has found that participation in CACFP reduces the prevalence of the conditions of underweight, overweight, or obesity in children, which highlights the importance of healthful meal patterns along with accurate nutrition education;

Whereas CACFP increases the quality of childcare, especially for children in low-income communities;

Whereas CACFP increases the effectiveness and viability of Head Start programs, childcare programs, including military childcare, and adult daycare programs for many providers, especially in rural areas;

Whereas CACFP improves the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical health and development of children, leading to more favorable outcomes such as—

(1) a decreased likelihood of being hospitalized;

(2) an increased likelihood of healthy weight gain; and

(3) an increased likelihood of a more varied diet, including increased consumption of vegetables, meat, eggs, whole grains, and milk;

Whereas the innovative approach to CACFP implementation, which pairs Head Start programs, childcare homes and centers, including military childcare, adult daycare centers, emergency shelters, and after-school sites with either a nonprofit sponsoring organization or a State agency, highlights a unique public-private partnership that supports working families and small businesses; and

Whereas the third week of March is annually recognized as “National CACFP Week” to raise awareness of the child and adult care food program of the Department of Agriculture: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the role of the child and adult care food program (commonly referred to as “CACFP”) in improving the health of the country’s most vulnerable children and adults in Head Start programs, childcare programs, including military childcare, family daycare homes, emergency shelters, adult daycare programs, and after-school care by providing nutritious meals and snacks;

(2) urges support for continuing to strengthen CACFP by offering reimbursement for an additional meal or snack for children in care for a full day, reducing area eligibility from 50 percent to 40 percent, offering annual eligibility to for profit childcare centers, factoring in annual food inflation fairly for childcare regardless of setting, and reducing administrative burdens to participation;

(3) acknowledges that CACFP can, and should, be an important tool in reducing the costs faced by the care economy, including licensed or approved child or adult care; and

(4) supports the designation of “National CACFP Week”.