[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 1, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           SCHOOL LUNCH CUTS

  (Mr. WISE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. WISE. Mr. Speaker, at Berkeley Heights Elementary School this 
week they do not think of the School Lunch Program as welfare. They 
think of simple nutrition and simple common sense. Those who say that 
there is no cut, apparently they have not spoken to those in their 
States as I have who know that, who have read their legislation and 
know that the Republicans are proposing cuts, real cuts that will mean 
the folding of School Lunch Programs across the country.
  Reputable groups say it could be as much as $7 billion, because what 
is done is you put the programs, the nutritional programs like school 
lunch, school breakfast, emergency food supplements, Women, Infants and 
Children all into one block grant. Then what you do is you make people 
fight to compete over those. You also remove the standards that have 
been so important. Remember the days of ketchup and relish being a 
vegetable. You do not have to worry about that anymore because you just 
take the whole lunch tray so you do not have to worry what is on it 
anymore.
  I also have great concerns about making this a block grant. Because 
when you put Women, Infants and Children and all the others together, 
you make the pregnant mother compete with her children in school for 
supplement and you make the day care toddler compete with his brothers 
and sisters in elementary school for lunch.


                          ____________________