[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2444-S2445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Dodd):
  S. 2183. A bill to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to create 
team nutrition networks to promote the nutritional health of school 
children; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, Federal child nutrition programs have 
long played a critical role in promoting healthy diets for American 
children. First conceived over 50 years ago in response to concerns 
about the impacts of the diets of American youth on their fitness for 
the armed forces, Federal child nutrition programs have since expanded 
and evolved to meet the needs of a diverse population.
  However, alarming increases in obesity rates for children and 
adolescents indicate that we are not doing enough in terms of nutrition 
education. The statistics are truly startling. Heart disease, cancer, 
stroke, and diabetes are responsible for two out of three deaths in the 
United States, and the major risk factors for those diseases and 
conditions are established in childhood through unhealthy eating 
habits, physical inactivity, obesity, and tobacco use. In the last two 
decades, obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in 
adolescents, and today, one in seven young people are obese, and one in 
three are overweight. Additionally, three out of four high school 
students in the United States do not eat the recommended five or more 
servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Finally, a recent report by 
the Surgeon General estimated that obesity-related costs in the U.S. 
are close to $100 billion a year.
  Unfortunately, nutrition education programs have been chronically 
under-funded. We have authorized 50 cents for every child served 
through Federal child nutrition programs, which is equivalent to over 
$24 million. This amount refers not to 50 cents per day, per week, or 
per month--this is 50 cents per year! However, last year, the only 
nutrition education program specifically directed at our Nation's 
school children, Team Nutrition, was funded at $10 million. This is 
equivalent to spending 21 cents a year on each child, a woefully 
inadequate amount. In addition, no funds were appropriated to nutrition 
education programs specifically designed to help States implement Team 
Nutrition materials.
  The Early Attention to Nutrition (EATN) Act of 2004, which I am 
introducing today together with Senators Lugar and Dodd, would raise 
the total amount dedicated to nutrition education to $50 million a 
year. The funds would be used by the USDA to develop Team Nutrition 
materials, and to support Team Nutrition Networks in the States. 
Currently, only 21 States receive funding through Team Nutrition. This 
bill would allow all States to obtain Team Nutrition grants, and would 
fund a Team Nutrition Network in each State, which would be responsible 
for disseminating and coordinating nutrition education initiatives. The 
goal of the Team Nutrition Networks is to: instruct students with 
regard to the nutritional value of foods and the relationship between 
food and human health; provide assistance to schools in the adoption 
and implementation of school policies that promote healthy eating; 
foster community environments that support healthy eating and physical 
activities; provide training and technical assistance to teachers and 
school food service professionals consistent with this section; 
evaluate State and local nutrition education programs; disseminate 
educational materials statewide through the use of the Internet, 
mailings, conferences, and other communication channels; provide 
subgrants to school and school food authorities for carrying out 
nutrition education activities at the local level; and provide 
information to parents and caregivers regarding the nutritional value 
of food and the relationship between food and health.

  Now is the time to take action toward improving the health and well-
being of our Nation's youth. The cost of improving the health of our 
children will be far less than the cost of the health consequences to 
come if we do nothing.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill and two letters of 
support be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2183

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Early Attention To Nutrition 
     (EATN) Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are 
     responsible for \2/3\ of deaths in the United States;
       (2) the major risk factors for those diseases and 
     conditions are established in childhood through unhealthy 
     eating habits, physical inactivity, obesity, and tobacco use;
       (3) obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in 
     adolescents over the last 2 decades;
       (4) today, 1 in 7 young people are obese, and 1 in 3 are 
     overweight;
       (5) obese children are twice as likely as nonobese children 
     to become obese adults;
       (6) an overweight condition and obesity can result in 
     physical, psychological, and social consequences, including 
     heart disease, diabetes, cancer, depression, decreased self-
     esteem, and discrimination;
       (7) only 2 percent of children consume a diet that meets 
     the 5 main recommendations for a healthy diet from the Food 
     Guide Pyramid published by the Secretary of Agriculture;
       (8) 3 out of 4 high school students in the United States do 
     not eat the recommended 5

[[Page S2445]]

     or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day; and
       (9) 3 out of 4 children in the United States consume more 
     saturated fat than is recommended in the Dietary Guidelines 
     for Americans published by the Secretary of Agriculture.

     SEC. 3. TEAM NUTRITION NETWORK GRANTS.

       Section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 
     1788) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 19. TEAM NUTRITION NETWORK GRANTS.

       ``(a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
       ``(1) to promote the nutritional health of school children 
     through nutrition education and other activities that support 
     healthy lifestyles for children;
       ``(2) to provide grants to States for the development of 
     statewide, comprehensive, and integrated nutrition education 
     programs; and
       ``(3) to provide training and technical assistance to 
     States, school and community nutrition programs, and child 
     nutrition food service professionals.
       ``(b) Definition of Team Nutrition Network.--In this 
     section, the term `team nutrition network' means a 
     multidisciplinary program to promote healthy eating to 
     children based on scientifically valid information and sound 
     educational, social, and marketing principles.
       ``(c) Grants.--The Secretary is authorized to make grants 
     to State educational agencies to promote the nutritional 
     health of school children through the establishment of team 
     nutrition networks.
       ``(d) Allocation.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and subsections 
     (g) and (h), the Secretary shall allocate funds made 
     available for a fiscal year under subsection (i) to make 
     grants to eligible State educational agencies for a fiscal 
     year in an amount determined by the Secretary, based on the 
     ratio that--
       ``(A) the number of lunches reimbursed through food service 
     programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) in schools, institutions, and 
     service institutions in the State that participate in the 
     food service programs; bears to
       ``(B) the number of lunches reimbursed through the food 
     service programs in schools, institutions, and service 
     institutions in all States that participate in the food 
     service programs.
       ``(2) Minimum grant.--
       ``(A) In general.--The amount of a grant made to a State 
     educational agency for a fiscal year under this section shall 
     not be less than $500,000.
       ``(B) Insufficient funds.--If the amount made available for 
     any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the amount to which 
     each eligible State educational agency is entitled under 
     subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall select, on a 
     competitive basis, eligible State educational agencies that 
     will receive, at least, the minimum amount of grants required 
     under subparagraph (A).
       ``(e) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     this section, a State educational agency shall submit a State 
     plan to the Secretary for approval, in such manner and at 
     such time as the Secretary determines, that includes 
     information regarding how the grant will be used in 
     accordance with this section.
       ``(f) Uses of Grant.--Subject to subsection (g), a grant 
     made under this section may be used to--
       ``(1) instruct students with regard to the nutritional 
     value of foods and the relationship between food and human 
     health;
       ``(2) promote healthy eating by children;
       ``(3) provide assistance to schools in the adoption and 
     implementation of school policies that promote healthy 
     eating;
       ``(4) foster community environments that support healthy 
     eating and physical activities;
       ``(5) provide training and technical assistance to teachers 
     and school food service professionals consistent with this 
     section;
       ``(6) evaluate State and local nutrition education 
     programs;
       ``(7) disseminate educational materials statewide through 
     the use of the Internet, mailings, conferences, and other 
     communication channels;
       ``(8) provide subgrants to school and school food 
     authorities for carrying out nutrition education activities 
     at the local level; and
       ``(9) conduct programs and education for parents and 
     caregivers regarding healthy eating for children.
       ``(g) State Coordinators.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that at least 
     10 percent of a grant made to a State educational agency for 
     each fiscal year is used by the State educational agency to 
     appoint a team nutrition network coordinator for the State.
       ``(2) Role of state coordinators.--A team nutrition network 
     coordinator for a State shall--
       ``(A) develop and administer the team nutrition network in 
     the State; and
       ``(B) coordinate the team nutrition network of the State 
     with--
       ``(i) the Secretary (acting through the Food and Nutrition 
     Service);
       ``(ii) State agencies responsible for children's health 
     programs (including school-based children's health programs); 
     and
       ``(iii) other appropriate Federal, State, and local 
     agencies.
       ``(h) National Activities.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall reserve 20 percent 
     of the amount of funds made available for each fiscal year 
     under subsection (i) to promote team nutrition networks 
     nationally in accordance with this subsection.
       ``(2) Activities.--Of the amount of funds that are reserved 
     for a fiscal year under this section, the Secretary shall 
     use--
       ``(A) 50 percent of the reserved funds for--
       ``(i) evaluation of activities funded under this section; 
     and
       ``(ii) development of a clearinghouse for collecting and 
     disseminating information on best practices for promoting 
     healthy eating in school and community child nutrition 
     programs; and
       ``(B) 50 percent of the reserved funds to carry out 
     national activities to support team nutrition networks 
     through the Secretary, acting through the Undersecretary of 
     Food and Nutrition Services.
       ``(i) Funding.--
       ``(1) In general.--On October 1, 2004, and on each October 
     1 thereafter through October 1, 2007, out of any funds in the 
     Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the Secretary of the 
     Treasury shall transfer to the Secretary of Agriculture to 
     carry out this section $50,000,000, to remain available until 
     expended.
       ``(2) Receipt and acceptance.--The Secretary shall be 
     entitled to receive, shall accept, and shall use to carry out 
     this section the funds transferred under paragraph (1), 
     without further appropriation. ''.
                                  ____



                                American Dietetic Association,

                                                   Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: Congratulations on developing the 
     Early Attention to Nutrition Bill (EATN Bill) of 2004. ADA 
     believes that when fully funded this bill will provide 
     American children and their families with better nutrition 
     education, physical activity education, and an overall more 
     supportive environment that will help them develop healthy 
     eating and activity patterns for life.
       The American Dietetic Association is the world's largest 
     food and professional association, and bases its work on 
     evidence-based science to make recommendations that can 
     promote optimal nutritional health and well-being. With that 
     commitment to the public, our members are particularly 
     pleased that this bill give due focus to nutrition education.
       ADA supports the legislation's concept of the team 
     Nutrition Network. Once enacted, Congress will need to assure 
     funding for these programs so that they may genuinely 
     contribute to improved health for American children. Your 
     support for a funding level that would ensure that all 50 
     states receive at least a minimum level of funding is highly 
     commendable and right on target as to what is needed. The 
     nutrition education programs funded by these grants should be 
     made available to both School lunch and breakfast sites as 
     well as the CACFP programs governed by the Child Nutrition 
     Act. Nutrition education and physical activity are key 
     components to promoting healthy lifestyles and must be 
     addressed across programs.
       Thank you for introducing this very important legislation. 
     The ADA is pleased to endorse this important step toward 
     improving the health of our children.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Ronald E. Smith,
     Director Government Affairs.
                                  ____

                                         Center for Science in the


                                              Public Interest,

                                                    March 8, 2004.
     Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
     Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC.

     Attention: Dr. Daniela Ligiero.
       Dear Senator Bingaman: The Center for Science in the Public 
     Interest (CSPI) thank you for for your long-standing record 
     of leadership in promoting healthy eating among children. 
     CSPI is a nonprofit health organization specializing in 
     nutrition that has over 800,000 members and subscribers to 
     its Nutrition Action Healthletter. We are pleased to strongly 
     support your ``Early Attention to Nutrition Act.''
       As obesity rates have doubled in children and tripled in 
     adolescents over the last two decades, the need for effective 
     nutrition education for children has become painfully 
     apparent. Your bill establishes a Team Nutrition Network that 
     would help educate children about the importance of healthy 
     eating to lifelong health. While the U.S. Department of 
     Agriculture's current Team Nutrition education program has 
     been effective in helping states to develop innovative 
     nutrition education programs, it does not provide consistent 
     and reliable funding year-to-year, nor does it include a 
     central mechanism to facilitate information-sharing between 
     states on best practices and innovations. The Team Nutrition 
     Network that your bill would establish is needed as an 
     addition to the existing Team Nutrition program to develop 
     and deliver effective nutrition education programs and 
     activities in schools.
       Again, CSPI applauds your efforts to help ensure that 
     schoolchildren are taught valuable skills for lifelong 
     healthy eating. We look forward to continuing to work with 
     you and your staff to promote children's health.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Margo G. Wootan,
                               D. Sc., Director, Nutrition Policy.
                                 ______