[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 160 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2073-E2074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HEALTHY, HUNGER-FREE KIDS ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 1, 2010

  Mr. KIND. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3307, 
the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. It's a well known fact that children 
in this country are not as healthy as they need to be. We have a 
responsibility to provide our children with the opportunity to lead a 
healthy lifestyle and this includes increasing their access to healthy 
foods. This bill makes historic strides toward providing nutritious 
lunches in schools and will ensure that we give children the 
opportunity to get a healthy start early in life.
  Obesity is a serious threat to the health of our nation's children. 
Nationally, more than 23 million children are obese or overweight. Over 
24 percent of children ages 2 to 5 are already overweight or obese. 
With obesity beginning at such an early age, it is becoming ever more 
important to intervene early. Obese kids are increasingly likely to 
become obese adults and are more susceptible to the chronic diseases 
that are costing our health care system billions of dollars each year. 
Childhood obesity is also a national defense concern as more and more 
young adults are ineligible for military service.
  Kids that learn healthy eating habits early in life are likely to 
carry them into adulthood. Healthy eating also increases concentration 
during the school day. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will address 
the issue of childhood by applying nutritional standards to all food 
sold in schools, strengthen school-wellness policies and improve the 
overall health of school environments for the first time. It also 
streamlines the process for enrollment in the free and reduced lunch 
program, making it easier for low- income families to enroll and 
participate in this program, ensuring that a healthy meal is provided 
to the children who need it most.
  Not only does this bill increase access and improve the quality of 
foods in the school lunch program, it also reauthorizes the Women, 
Infants and Children (WIC) program and makes historic reforms to the 
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP helps provide 
funding for meals and snacks served to children and adults receiving 
day care and youths participating in after-school care programs. The 
Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act includes provisions from my Healthy 
CHOICES Act that for the first time will increase healthy eating and 
wellness in child care through the establishment of higher nutrition 
standards for providers participating in CACFP.
  The bill will also expand after-school dinner programs for at-risk 
children nationwide by reimbursing states for providing meals. In 
total, this will provide an additional 21 million meals to at-risk 
children annually. CACFP program administration will be streamlined, 
reducing paperwork and increasing efficiency for providers. There are 
currently 4,435 CACFP sites in Wisconsin that serve over 22 million 
meals and snacks to children and adults each year. The reforms in the 
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will allow CACFP in Wisconsin to provide 
healthier meals to a greater number of individuals.
  I urge all of my colleagues to come together to put our kids first by 
passing this bill today. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act contains the 
most significant improvements to child nutrition programs in more than 
30 years and is fully paid for. We owe it to the health and well-being 
of our children to come together today and do what is right, pass this 
bill.

[[Page E2074]]



                          ____________________