Chairman Miller Statement on National School Lunch Week
Economic crisis making it harder for schools to provide healthy, low-cost meals for schoolchildren

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today in honor of National School Lunch Week. The National School Lunch Program provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to millions of children in schools each day, as well as after school and summer programs. The Child Nutrition and National School Lunch Acts are up for reauthorization in 2009.

“Millions of children rely on the National School Lunch Program for nutritious meals that help them thrive inside and outside the classroom. Unfortunately, the current economic crisis has placed tremendous pressure on both families and schools. Parents are finding it harder to put meals on their tables and are relying more heavily on school meal programs to help feed their kids. At the same time, schools are being forced to cut costs while still striving to offer healthy meals that kids will choose to eat.

“We know that this isn’t fair for schools or good for our children. School meal programs are on the frontlines of our nation’s childhood obesity battle – and have an enormous influence as children are developing life-long eating habits. Especially in light of the growing fiscal challenges we face, we must do everything we can to help schools find creative ways to continue providing low-cost, healthy meals for children. Providing children with access to nutritious foods while at childcare, school, or summer camp is vital to our efforts to help all children learn, succeed and thrive – and for improving the health of all Americans.”

The Committee on Education and Labor held two hearings on child nutrition gearing up for next year’s reauthorization – for more information about these hearings, click here and here.

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