[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H859-H860]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REAUTHORIZATION OF CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Costello) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
efforts to reauthorize child nutrition programs.
  Last year the House and the Senate worked together in a bipartisan 
fashion to reauthorize our elementary and secondary education programs. 
I rise today to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to carry 
forward that momentum to complete a much-needed review and renewal of 
Federal child nutrition programs. In doing so, Mr. Speaker, I would 
urge my colleagues to employ similar goals and objectives: simplify, 
streamline, and empower State and local education agencies when 
reauthorizing these programs.
  In particular, this approach can benefit our students and families by 
finding a path forward to simplify and streamline existing Federal 
nutrition and meal requirements without sacrificing the beneficial 
dietary value that school meals bring to students' daily lives. Much 
like we empowered our teachers to establish the curriculum and 
standards to best teach students they know so well, we likewise should 
empower those who know what our students will actually eat: the school 
professionals who work with the goal of making sure our children are 
able to enjoy healthy, nutritious meals.
  Likewise, we can use this opportunity to continue efforts to ensure 
that our existing Federal nutrition programs are providing adequate and 
appropriate training to school professionals, as well as the resources 
necessary to improve and enhance our school meal delivery system.
  Mr. Speaker, this opportunity will allow us to strengthen existing 
programs that strive to get nutritious meals to children year-round, 
and at earlier ages. Existing programs like the Summer Food Service 
Program can be enhanced and made more efficient to make sure they 
effectively reach those children who are most in need of quality, 
healthy meals. We can collaborate with Head Start, afterschool, and 
early childhood programs to better engage them in existing Federal 
programs that offer nutritious meals to young children most in need.
  We have a strong infrastructure in place to provide children and 
families with quality, healthy meals, and we have an excellent 
opportunity to improve these programs. I respectfully call on my 
colleagues on both sides of

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the aisle to work together to accomplish this effort before another 
school year comes to a close.


    Leveraging and Energizing America's Apprenticeship Programs Act

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the Leveraging and Energizing America's Apprenticeship Programs Act, 
legislation that I have cosponsored.
  In the midst of a slow economic recovery, one of the issues plaguing 
both our workforce and our job creators is a persistent mismatch of 
employer needs and employee skills. Right now, 10 million unemployed 
Americans are seeking work, while 4 million jobs remain unfilled. 
Fortunately, this problem can be solved with a bipartisan commitment to 
commonsense workforce development initiatives, as demonstrated by the 
Leveraging and Energizing America's Apprenticeship Programs bill.
  By promoting apprenticeship programs, this legislation creates 
opportunities for highly motivated workers to earn a salary, while 
gaining the skills they need to succeed in high-demand fields.
  I am proud to say that employers in my congressional district in 
southeastern Pennsylvania have already recognized the value of 
apprenticeship programs by making hundreds of these opportunities 
available to those looking to build their job training and skills.
  I commend Congressman Rodney Davis for his efforts on this 
legislation, and I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support it.


               Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act

  Mr. COSTELLO of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
reauthorizing the Older Americans Act.
  The Older Americans Act provides social and nutritional support to 
members of our senior population and their caregivers. Enacted in 1965, 
this legislation has improved health outcomes, independence, and 
quality of life by offering meal delivery, respite care, and other 
essential services to the most vulnerable members of our population.
  Reauthorization of this legislation gives Congress an opportunity to 
modernize multipurpose senior centers; improve falls prevention and 
chronic disease self-management training; strengthen laws to combat 
abuse, neglect, and exploitation; and support our local Area Agencies 
on Aging.
  Mr. Speaker, I offer my support to work with my colleagues to review 
and advance the legislation passed by the United States Senate last 
year, as it is an effort that will not only help protect seniors across 
my district and the U.S., but will ensure that our existing Federal 
support programs are appropriately tailored to meet the present-day 
needs of our senior citizens.

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