[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 45 (Friday, March 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   REPUBLICANS AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS

  (Ms. McCARTHY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans claim they received a 
clear electoral message that the Nation was ready for change. Well, we 
have begun to see what their definition of change means and here it is 
Mr. Speaker: If you are a poor, hungry child in America, then you have 
to wait in line behind the space station and tax breaks for the wealthy 
before you can receive a nutritious meal.
  We have heard Republicans come to this floor and claim they are not 
cutting child nutrition programs with the proposed block grants for the 
States. This is simply not true. In fact, in the first 5 years, the 
school-based nutrition programs will be cut by $2.5 billion and the 
family-based programs by $4.6 billion. In my State, Missouri, that 
translates into a $103 million loss for students in the school lunch 
program. Apparently, Republicans have not only misplaced their 
compassion, but it seems they have lost their calculators, as well.
  Like many of the provisions in the Republican contract that have been 
rushed through this body, the attack on the nutrition programs promises 
to dismantle in 100 days, programs that have efficiently fed children 
for over 30 years.
  We all agree on the need to reform the welfare system and to bring 
Federal spending under control, but I want to remind Republican leaders 
that it should not be done at the expense of working families.


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