[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1322-E1323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCING THE SCHOOL ENHANCEMENT OF AMERICA'S TALENTED STUDENTS ACT

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                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 14, 2010

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the School Enhancement 
of America's Talented Students Act, a bill to create a competitive 
grant program for schools that are striving to combat obesity and 
improve nutrition in our schools.
  One-third of America's youth are now overweight or obese, and it's 
getting worse. We need to act now as a nation to prevent not only a 
health crisis, but God forbid these kids be called to our national 
defense years from now. How prepared will we be to defend our shores? 
We were caught ill prepared before. We established national child 
nutrition programs, now it's time to keep them working. It is a fact 
that our Nation's schools now provide over half the calories our 
children consume through breakfast and lunch programs. We can feed our 
kids better by simply shifting the recipes our schools use to fresh 
vegetables and fruits and other healthier alternatives. Healthy habits 
formed early, last lifetimes. As families grow healthier, our country 
prospers. Obesity can bankrupt the health of a nation easier than the 
most complex far-reaching Wall Street scam. Obesity creates a complex 
formula of inter-related secondary deadly health risks. We are blessed 
that we can turn the tide.
  This bill creates a competitive grant program for school districts 
that seek to improve the health of our students by implementing a 
nutrition program that provides healthier meals. The grant program 
would give priority to states with the highest obesity rates of at 
least 30

[[Page E1323]]

percent for adults and children and where at least 50 percent of the 
students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. These states, 
including my home state of West Virginia, face a steep climb in the 
battle against child obesity. This grant program will help implement 
initiatives that will improve the health of the students.
  ``Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution'' was in fact a revolution of 
recipes for Cabell County Schools in Huntington, West Virginia, where 
the schools adopted meal plans using more fresh ingredients. I applaud 
Cabell County Schools for its innovative program, partnering with Mr. 
Oliver, and continuing with their own ingenuity and hard work. They are 
leading the way as we all seek to improve the lives and futures of our 
kids and grandkids. I want to ensure that other Congressional districts 
confronting similar circumstances have the opportunity to implement a 
program that encourages fresh foods in school meals.
  As Congress moves towards improving the nutrition of school meals 
through the Child Nutrition Reauthorization, I urge my colleagues to 
support this program to give our schools an opportunity to serve 
healthier foods and begin to reduce childhood obesity.

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