[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 153 (Thursday, October 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK

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                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 13, 2011

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National School Lunch Week 
to express my appreciation to the thousands of people in the great 
state of California who work tirelessly to ensure that children are fed 
nutritious meals in school.
  During times of limited resources, these professionals are working to 
provide high quality meals to all students.
  I applaud Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack for the USDA's efforts to 
improve child nutrition programs.
  Yet I also wish to express my concerns regarding the recently 
proposed regulations for school meal standards.
  I fear the proposed regulations will increase costs to hard-pressed 
school districts beyond what can reasonably be managed.
  The result may be that schools will reduce access to nutritious meals 
because they simply can't afford to provide them.
  Of equal concern is the great number of unknowns about the impacts of 
the proposal--including how it will impact school meal costs, 
participation, and access.
  I urge the Secretary to take this into consideration and allow 
flexibility during this regulatory process.
  We must all closely monitor the progress made by schools, and the 
effectiveness of the new rules on the health and well-being of 
America's children moving forward.

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