[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.

                          ____________________