[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H688-H690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 274) expressing support for 
designation of March as National Nutrition Month.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 274

       Whereas according to the American Dietetic Association good 
     nutrition is vital to a healthy and long life;
       Whereas according to the American Dietetic Association the 
     National Nutrition

[[Page H689]]

     Month campaign focuses attention on the importance of making 
     informed food choices and developing sound eating and 
     physical activity habits;
       Whereas the first Nutrition Campaign was launched with a 
     presidential proclamation in 1973 as National Nutrition Week;
       Whereas National Nutrition Week became National Nutrition 
     Month in 1980;
       Whereas poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles are linked 
     to obesity and health problems;
       Whereas 17 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 11 
     are overweight;
       Whereas 17.6 percent of adolescents between the ages of 12 
     and 19 are overweight;
       Whereas 33.3 percent of adult men are obese and 35.3 
     percent of adult women are obese in the United States;
       Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control, since 
     1980 obesity rates for adults have doubled and rates for 
     children have tripled;
       Whereas dietary factors are associated with 4 of the 10 
     leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, 
     stroke, and diabetes;
       Whereas these health conditions are estimated to cost the 
     United States over $600,000,000,000 each year in medical 
     expenses and lost productivity;
       Whereas access to proper nutrition helps fight off illness 
     and disease and is vital to children's cognitive development;
       Whereas poor nutrition, inactivity, and weight problems in 
     school age children may cause low academic performance or 
     behavioral problems resulting in additional costs; and
       Whereas March would be an appropriate month to designate as 
     National Nutrition Month: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the designation of National Nutrition Month;
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Nutrition 
     Month;
       (3) encourages local communities to raise awareness 
     surrounding nutritional health;
       (4) encourages awareness about diseases and death caused by 
     lack of nutrition; and
       (5) recognizes and salutes health care professionals such 
     as registered dietitians, that spread the knowledge and 
     importance of nutrition each day.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to rule, the gentlelady from 
Florida (Ms. Castor) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlelady from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material therein.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  We are going to continue to work for a healthier America, and this 
year marks the 30th year that March is celebrated as National Nutrition 
Month. The National Nutrition Month campaign focuses attention on the 
importance of making informed food choices, developing sound eating 
habits, and promoting exercise in our daily lives.
  The first nutrition campaign was launched in 1973, with the 
Presidential proclamation as National Nutrition Week, and became 
National Nutrition Month in 1980. I am especially proud to support 
National Nutrition Month, as First Lady Michelle Obama has just 
recently launched the Let's Move campaign to target childhood obesity.
  This initiative has four components: One, making healthy choices; 
two, putting healthy foods in schools; three, increasing access and 
affordability of healthy foods; and, four, increasing physical 
education.
  Good nutrition and healthy eating habits play a fundamental role in 
the overall health of both children and adults. The Children's Health 
Care Caucus, which I am proud to co-Chair with my Republican colleague 
Congressman Dave Reichert of Washington, is helping to raise awareness 
regarding good nutrition and healthy eating habits and how they improve 
the lives of all Americans. Poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles are 
linked to obesity and countless health problems.
  Today, one-third of adults in the United States are obese. Can you 
believe that? And childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1980. In 
my home State of Florida, one-third of children in our State are 
overweight or obese, and that is a statistic that replays itself in 
every State across America.
  In my Tampa Bay area community, in Hillsborough County, more than 80 
percent of children are not getting the recommended daily serving of 
fruits and vegetables. So we have a lot of work to do.
  Dietary factors are associated with four of the 10 leading causes of 
death in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, 
and diabetes. These health conditions are estimated to cost the United 
States over $6 billion annually in medical expenses and lost 
productivity. We can do better.
  Parents, you must focus on healthy choices for your children. You 
must become good role models for your kids.
  For children, poor nutrition, inactivity, and weight issues can often 
lead to low academic performance or behavioral problems resulting in 
additional costs. Proper nutrition helps to fight illnesses, and it is 
vital to our children's cognitive development.
  House Resolution 274 designates March as National Nutrition Month and 
encourages communities all across America to increase awareness about 
nutritional health.
  Additionally, this resolution recognizes the hard work of registered 
dieticians and health care professionals that help to educate 
communities about good nutrition.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  On behalf of the ranking member and the Energy and Commerce 
Committee, I rise in support of H. Res. 274, supporting the designation 
of March as National Nutrition Month.
  Over the last 20 years, obesity rates have been steadily increasing 
in the United States. According to the CDC, in 2008, 32 States had a 
prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 25 percent. Six of these 
States--Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and 
West Virginia--had a prevalence of obesity equal or greater than 30 
percent. I am glad that my home State of Nebraska is not on this, but 
we have been shoveling enough snow that our children are getting some 
exercise.
  Obesity rates among children and adolescents are especially 
staggering and have led to increasing health problems such as diabetes 
and heart disease among this population. Poor nutrition habits and 
sedentary lifestyle both have been linked with many of the obesity and 
health problems that afflict Americans today. Many dietary factors have 
led to conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. 
But through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and controlling weight 
problems, these threats to our health are far less likely to occur.
  It is important for Americans to recognize the significance of 
monitoring their own eating habits and that of their family. Proper 
nutrition, exercise, and healthy living could help lead to lower 
obesity rates, fewer medical expenses, and increased productivity.
  I stand in support of this resolution and hope that my colleagues 
will join me.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes 
to a champion for children from the Education and Labor Committee and 
the State of California, Congresswoman Woolsey.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I thank Madam Castor for her good 
leadership.
  It is our job as adults to help children make the right decisions 
about everything, particularly about eating healthy and nutritious 
foods, because what they eat has a powerful impact on how they learn, 
how they grow, and how they thrive.
  Children who have nutritious meals at home and in schools are more 
likely to get the most out of their education and to stay on a path 
toward a healthy lifestyle. We here in this Congress, we as adults, we 
as parents and grandparents have a responsibility to support good 
nutrition for all children, for teenagers, for adults, which is why I 
am proud to rise today as a cosponsor of H. Res. 274, which expresses 
strong support for designating March as National Nutrition Month.
  Today, 23 million children and adolescents are obese or overweight. 
Obesity rates for children between 6 and 11 years old have more than 
quadrupled over the last 40 years. Throughout

[[Page H690]]

their lives, these children are at a much greater risk for heart 
disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and social and psychological 
problems. Enabling children to make healthy choices is a smart down 
payment on supporting healthy future generations.
  I commend the President, and I commend the First Lady and USDA 
Secretary Tom Vilsack for continuing to champion a strong investment in 
our children's nutrition programs and working with me to ensure that 
the only foods in schools will be healthy foods based on current 
nutrition science, and that only healthy foods are sold in the schools 
throughout the day.
  Madam Speaker, it is time to update our nutrition standards for food 
sold in vending machines----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 
minute.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Because those standards haven't changed for the last 30 
years, standards for a la carte lines for school snacks and for outside 
vending machines.

                              {time}  1600

  All of this has to do with meeting obesity head on.
  Recognizing the month of March as National Nutrition Month will shine 
a light on the problems of obesity and poor nutrition in this country. 
So I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Castor, for introducing this 
important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing it 
today.
  Mr. TERRY. I continue to reserve.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, at this time, I am pleased to 
yield 2 minutes to one of the experts on nutrition in the Congress, 
Congresswoman Dahlkemper from Pennsylvania.
  Mrs. DAHLKEMPER. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 
274, supporting March as National Nutrition Month.
  Madam Speaker, for over 25 years I served as a clinical dietitian 
helping hospitals, schools, and other organizations prepare healthy 
menus and emphasizing good nutrition, good diet and long-term wellness.
  National Nutrition Month is an important tool for health and wellness 
advocates across the country. Every year, we as dietitians and those in 
the health care field use this designation to promote nutritious diets 
and to educate people about healthy eating habits. Proper nutrition and 
healthy eating are essential to improving our Nation's long-term health 
and to lowering the rate of chronic diseases such as heart disease, 
diabetes and cancer.
  Madam Speaker, I call upon my colleagues to support House Resolution 
274 to help make healthy living a national priority.
  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my 
colleague, Congressman Terry from the Energy and Commerce Committee, 
and urge my colleagues to support this House resolution designating 
March as National Nutrition Month.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I stand before you today in 
support of H. Res. 274 ``Expressing support for designation of March as 
National Nutrition Month.''
  I would like to begin by thanking my colleague Representative Kathy 
Castor for introducing this resolution in the House of Representatives, 
as it is important that we acknowledge and recognize the importance of 
good nutrition toward maintaining a healthy and productive nation.
  Furthermore, it is important that we continue to educate and 
encourage our local communities to raise their awareness of nutritional 
health and encourage an expanded knowledge within the community 
regarding the benefits of proper nutrition. By improving nutrition 
standards within our communities we can help support people in their 
efforts toward living a long, healthy and productive life.
  Unfortunately, obesity and poor nutrition among citizens is 
especially prevalent in my home city of Houston, Texas. For years 
Houston has been consistently rated as the ``fattest city in America.'' 
Currently, 58 percent of adults and 39 percent of children are 
classified as overweight or obese in the Greater Houston community. 
This resolution would also seek to help the people of my district in 
Houston by raising the awareness of nutritional health issues.
  It is estimated that since 1980, obesity rates for adults have 
doubled and obesity rates for children have nearly tripled due to poor 
nutrition and sedentary lifestyles in the United States. Furthermore, 
four of the top ten causes of death including heart disease, cancer, 
stroke and diabetes have been attributed to factors surrounding a 
person's nutrition and diet. These four health conditions are estimated 
to cost the United States over $600 billion each year in medical 
expenses and lost productivity.
  These are several of the major factors highlighting the importance of 
good nutrition in our nation. It also shows the importance of making 
informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity 
habits. In conjunction with good nutrition, it is also important that 
citizens take on healthy physical activity on a regular basis to 
maintain good health.
  These health and nutrition factors take an even greater level of 
importance when we discuss the effects of nutrition on our nation's 
children. Poor nutrition and lack of exercise in school-age children 
has been shown to cause a decrease in academic performance in addition 
to behavioral problems. In younger children, poor nutrition can 
manifest itself in more severe ways. Lack of proper nutrition also 
makes young children more prone to illness and disease and inhibits 
children's cognitive development.
  Furthermore it is important that we recognize the gaps in school 
lunch programs at public schools. The National School Lunch Program was 
designed to provide low cost or free school lunch meals to qualified 
students through subsidies given to schools. In many school districts 
however, this poses a problem as children are only in school around 180 
days out of the year. How is this federally mandated program supposed 
to adequately provide for and supplement children's diets when it is 
only available to them for half of the year?
  It is vitally important that we work together as a nation to improve 
nutrition standards across the board; particularly for children and the 
elderly. It is appalling to me that children still go hungry in this 
great nation and it is our duty to ensure that all children receive 
proper nutrition in addition to great physical education in schools.
  Officially establishing the month of March as ``National Nutrition 
Month'' would seek to improve the lives of our citizens as well as 
increase our citizen's awareness of the importance of good nutrition in 
living a healthy and productive life. Furthermore, by providing 
education and instruction to adults and children alike, we can help to 
ensure that the United States continues to serve as a model of balanced 
nutrition to the world.
  I ask my colleagues for their support of this legislation as well as 
their support for the improving nutrition across our country. I 
strongly urge you to support this resolution.
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 274.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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