[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 15 (Tuesday, February 22, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: February 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
LETTERS FROM DANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, every week I receive hundreds of letters
from the folks in Vermont, telling me about the issues that are
important to them and what they think about the job I am doing for
Vermont here in Washington. All of these letters are important to me,
and during recess last week I received some very special letters from
the second grade class of Dana Elementary School in Rutland, VT. The
students of Mrs. Marro's class were writing to thank me for a bill I
introduced last November, the Better Nutrition and Health for Children
Act of 1993. This bill will bring the school lunches our children eat
all year up to the nutritional standards recommended by the Department
of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy
eating habits in our kids will help to build healthy bodies for a
lifetime. And what better place is there to teach our young people
about the importance of a healthy diet than in their own schools.
These letters are especially important to me because they came from
the people this bill will affect the most; the children who will
benefit from healthier, more nutritious diets. Some people have said
that my bill will not work because kids will refuse to eat healthy food
that is served to them. These letters tell a different story. Heather
Rice wrote that she would like to have salad in her school lunch;
Samantha Palumbo likes the idea of healthier lunches because the food
in her lunches is fatty; and Casey Jennings wants healthier food so he
can be strong and build a house of his own. Our children should have
the option of eating healthy foods early in life. It is time we did our
part to bring these meals to them.
I would like to thank Mrs. Marro and every student of her second
grade class for taking the time to learn about good nutrition. The
letters and drawings I received have been hung in my staff's offices as
a reminder of who the Better Nutrition and Health for Children Act is
for--the children in Vermont and in every State. I ask unanimous
consent that the letters that I received from Mrs. Marro's class be
included in the Record. I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will
take a moment to read what our schoolchildren have to say about
providing healthy lunches to our schools.
There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Dear Senator Leahy, I like your idea of the Better
nutrition and Health for children Act? I want to be healthy
so I can be strong to build a house. I want to be a builder.
From,
Casey Jennings.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, We've learned that we have to be
careful not to eat too much fat. I hope you like my letter
when you get it from Mrs. Marro's 2nd grade class. My name is
Caitlin Wolven and I am 8 years old. I have back problems. My
hair is brown.
Yours truly,
Caitlin Wolven.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, Hi, I'm Katie Stockton. I am in second
grade. My teacher told us about your bill S. 1614. I think it
is a good idea to have healthy meals in school cafeterias. I
want to be strong so I can do gymnastics.
Sincerely,
Katie.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I think your Better Nutrition and
Health for Children Act is a good idea. I think it is good
about lowering fat in schools. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Laura.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, My name is Michael. I am in Mrs.
Marro's second grade class at Dana school in Rutland,
Vermont. You are a nice guy I am glad that you are taking the
fat out of my school lunch.
Yours truly,
Mike.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, My name is Joseph. I am in Mrs. Marro's
second grade class at Dana School in Rutland, Vermont. I like
what you are doing. I want to eat healthy at school.
Yours truly,
Joseph.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I go to Dana school and I live in
Rutland Vermont. We would like to have healthy meals in
school and we would like your help.
Sincerely,
Ashley Skidmore.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I would like healthier lunches. I think
it is a great idea to have a healthier lunch because I want a
healthier life. My name is JR I just got my ear pierced
Bye,
JR.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I am Samantha Palumbo, and I live in
Rutland, Vermont. I go to Dana School. My teacher told us
about your bill S. 1614. I think it is a good idea also! I
think you are a very good Senator! I have two sisters and a
brother. He was born in December. I like your idea because
the food is fatty!
Sincerely,
Samantha Palumbo.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, Mrs. Marro told us about the bill S.
1614. I really liked the part about changing the school
lunches to have less fat and salt and sugar. I am 7 years
old. And I go to Dana School
Yours truly,
MaryBeth Radaker.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I think this is a good idea to have
healthier food at school. I like healthier food. We have been
talking about food and nutrition.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Sanborn.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, Hi, I'm Kathryn Ahearn. I'm in 2nd
grade. I go to Dana Elementary School in Rutland, Vermont. I
want to thank you for thinking about us because of your bill
to make school lunches healthier. My parents would like that
too because my mom and dad like me and my sister to have a
good lunch and snack.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Ahearn.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I like the idea about nutrition meals
in our school. It isn't too good to eat too much fat. I want
to be healthy, so I will be big and strong.
Sincerely,
Jessie Rule.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I like the idea of the bill S. 1614.
The reason I know about it is because my teacher told our
class. The thing that we are studying is food and nutrition.
I like to eat healthy foods. You are thinking about healthy
children. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Janelle Larson.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I am from Dana School. I like your idea
of the Better Nutrition and Health for Children Act. You are
a good Senator.
Yours truly,
Frankie Sanborn.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I live in Rutland, Vermont. I go to the
Dana School. I like your idea about the good Nutrition and
Health for Children Act. It is a good idea! My name is Carrie
Ames. I have one sister and her name is Stephanie Ames. You
are a good Senator.
Yours truly,
Carrie Ames.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I like your idea about healthy and
nutritious school lunches. I want a healthy life so I can be
in the army.
Yours truly,
Stefan.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I am Heather Rice and I like your idea
about less fat in school lunch. That is nice of you to take
care of us. Can I tell you what I like? Salad. Can I have
that? Can I have one piece of candy? I go to Dana School in
Rutland Vermont. Mrs. Marro is my teacher.
Sincerely,
Heather Rice.
____
Dear Senator Leahy, I go to Dana School and my name is
Cassie. I have brown or black hair. I like your idea because
I'm studying about food and nutrition. I learned that eating
too much fat could make you sick. How are you feeling? I hope
you are feeling fine. What is it like down there?
Yours truly,
Cassie.
____________________