[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1862-E1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NUTRITION EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation which 
provide funds for the Nutrition Education and Training Program [NET].
  Enactment of this legislation is necessary to remedy a glitch in the 
funding of this program resulting from the enactment of the welfare 
reform bill. Since the 103d Congress, NET has been a mandatory spending 
program. The Appropriations Committee funded it as such for fiscal year 
1997. However, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act 
modified current law to once again categorize NET as a discretionary 
spending program. Since mandatory funds cannot be used to fund a 
discretionary program, NET is currently without a funding source for 
fiscal year 1997.
  This legislation provides a total of $7.5 million in funding for the 
Nutrition Education and Training Program, to be derived equally from 
the School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children and the Temporary 
Emergency Food Assistance Act. As my colleagues are probably aware, 
questions have arisen regarding the operation of the Team Nutrition 
Program by the Department of Agriculture. In addition, there are 
carryover funds which can be used for Team Nutrition activities for the 
upcoming fiscal year. As such, I feel it is more than appropriate to 
transfer $3.75 million in funds from the Team Nutrition Program to the 
Nutrition Education Program.
  Mr. Speaker, while the Nutrition Education and Training Program 
receives a minimal amount of funding, schools throughout the country 
use these dollars to promote healthy eating habits among our Nation's 
children.

[[Page E1863]]

  In Pennsylvania, for example, funds are used to publish posters and 
other materials related to the dietary guidelines and the food pyramid. 
In addition, these dollars are used by the State to purchase items they 
can't buy with their State administrative funds, to train school food 
service personnel, and for the development of healthy meal menus and 
recipe guides. All of their NET funds go to kids and teachers.
  Organizations, including the American School Food Service 
Association, the Food Research and Action Center, the National School 
Boards Association, the National PTA, Public Voice for Food and Health 
Policy, and the Association of State and Territorial Public Health 
Nutrition Directors, have written to Secretary of Agriculture Dan 
Glickman requesting that he take whatever action is necessary to ensure 
local funding for NET. He cannot effectively respond to this request 
without our assistance.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in amending the law to 
provide finding to the Nutrition Education and Training Program. This 
program is too important to allow it go without funding in the upcoming 
fiscal year.

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