[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 173 (Thursday, October 31, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6357-S6358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NATIONAL FARM TO SCHOOL MONTH

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 403, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will read the resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 403) designating October 2019 as 
     ``National Farm to School Month''.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I am proud to honor the contributions 
of farm to school programs around the country by introducing a 
resolution that designates October as ``National Farm to School 
Month.'' I am glad Senators Collins, Brown, and Perdue joined me in 
introducing this resolution.
  Under a provision I authored in the 2010 Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids 
Act, farm to school programs across the country have thrived. Grants 
have been awarded in all 50 States and the District of Columbia to 
support programs in more than 43,000 schools. We have learned that one 
of the best ways to help students make healthy choices is to teach them 
about their food and how it is grown. Making that connection makes a 
difference.
  We all know that hungry children cannot learn. Studies have shown 
that healthy nutrition in a young person's diet is crucial to cognitive 
ability and better health in the long run. Food insecurity and obesity 
rates are still too high in this country, resulting in poor health and 
learning and behavioral difficulties at school. The school meal program 
has made tremendous strides in recent years to ensure not only that 
children have access to meals throughout the school day but that those 
meals are nutritious. The Farm to School Program has given children and 
schools across the country the tools to craft farm-fresh, healthy, and 
delicious meals that students enjoy.
  In Vermont, I have seen firsthand how farm to school efforts have 
better connected children with the food in their cafeteria. Students 
participate in school gardens, sustainability projects, and taste tests 
for new school menu items. Earlier this month, I was glad to visit St. 
Albans, VT, to announce grants that will enhance classroom curriculum 
to help children become familiar with local food and how to eat 
healthfully.
  Ensuring children have enough food to eat is an issue that unites us 
all. There is simply no excuse that in the wealthiest, most powerful 
Nation on Earth, people go hungry. Small changes in eating habits by 
children

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will result in lifelong health benefits for generations to come. The 
Farm to School Program empowers children and their families to make 
healthy choices now and in the future. I am glad all Senators joined us 
in recognizing the importance of this program and recognizing October 
2019 as National Farm to School Month.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the measure.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the resolution.
  The resolution (S. Res. 403) was agreed to.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to 
and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the 
table with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today's Record 
under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')

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