[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 41 (Monday, March 6, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS AXED

  (Mr. JEFFERSON asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that the moral test of 
government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of 
life, the children. Sadly, today Congress is falling extremely short of 
this test. It is sacrificing the health and well-being of our Nation's 
most vulnerable in favor of petty political rhetoric, and to safeguard 
the privileged status of the wealthiest of Americans on the backs of 
women and children.
  With the near elimination of the school lunch and breakfast programs 
and the Food Stamp Program, among others, our colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle have hit nearly 5 million of America's children, our 
most previous resource, where it could very well hurt them the most--in 
their stomachs. Mr. Speaker, that is a shame.
  The proposed rescissions this House will be asked to vote on soon are 
mean-spirited and close to a declaration of war on women and children. 
Child nutrition programs, undeniably, have been marked by many signs of 
success. There is a positive connection between child nutrition 
programs and educational attainment.
  Low-income children who participate in these programs achieve higher 
standardized test scores than low-income students who do not. Decreased 
tardiness and absenteeism have also resulted from these programs.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, these nutrition programs have made it 
easier for children to do what we want them to do when they go to 
school--to learn.
  Let us not take this chance away from our children.
  

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