[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   GROWING LUNCH MEALS, GROWING KIDS

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                            HON. RON PACKARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 14, 1995
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, some things will never change. The 
Democrats continue to ignore the facts and continue to spew liberal 
lies. The Republican food and nutrition block grant proposal will not 
take food out of little Johnny's mouth. Republicans know that hungry 
children can't learn. Our plan takes the Federal bureaucratic fat out 
of the school lunch program, leaving more money for the kids.
  Block grants will rid this country of a Washington-based, Washington-
regulated, and Washington-mandated system that has failed our children. 
Our Republican proposals ensure that needy children are put in front of 
bureaucrats, not lost in their administrative maze. Children must and 
will get the services they need.
  Removing the thick layer of Federal bureaucracy allows local and 
State governments to do a better job with less paperwork and less 
regulation. Our Republican proposal recognizes that local government 
knows what works best for the children in their communities. They know 
best how to get increased mileage out of the Federal money. 
Furthermore, cutting out the Federal middleman gets more money to the 
State and local level. Republicans make sure that States don't replace 
Washington bureaucrats with their own State bureaucrats.
  Under our food and nutrition block grant proposal States cannot spend 
more than 2 percent of their block grant on administrative costs. 
Getting bureaucrats out of our children's school cafeterias permits 
funding to grow 4.5 percent a year, a rate above inflation.
  Not one needy child will have food taken from his or her mouth. At 
least 80 percent of Federal funds must be spent on low-income children. 
Block grants actually will increase the amount of money that gets to 
the kids. In 5 years we'll be spending $1 billion more per year on 
school meals than we are today.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans want us to reform our disastrous welfare 
state. Republicans want to get Washington out of the business of 
running these programs. Moving the money closer to the children ensures 
that we feed more kids with less money. Food and nutrition block grants 
are good for our kids and good for America.


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