Press Release of Senator Lugar Lugar Receives Champion of Summer Learning Award Wednesday, July 23, 2008 U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar has received the Champion of Summer Learning Award for his work with the Lugar Pilot Program, the Summer Learning Program and his co-sponsorship with Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) of a Senate resolution to designate July 10, 2008, as “National Summer Learning Day” from the Center for Summer Learning of Johns Hopkins University.   “I am grateful to receive this distinction from the Center for Summer Learning of Johns Hopkins University,” said Lugar.  “I will take this award to my office and display it proudly.”   The Mikulski-Lugar resolution: ·        Designates July 10, 2008, as ‘National Summer Learning Day’ in order to raise public awareness about the positive impact of summer learning opportunities on the development and educational success of children in the U.S.; ·        Urges the promotion of summer learning activities in order that young people begin school each fall ready to learn, support working parents and keep children safe and healthy during the summer months; and ·        Urges communities to celebrate, with appropriate ceremonies and activities, the importance of high quality summer learning opportunities in the lives of young students and their families.   The Lugar Pilot program is an example of the programs needed to support children in the summer months.  The program reduces bureaucracy in the summer feeding program, and participating states have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of children fed throughout the summer when school lunches are not available.  The program started in 2001 in 13 states including Indiana, and Lugar pushed annually for its expansion until 2007 when it was adopted nationwide.    In addition, Lugar led the successful opposition to replacing the school lunch program with block grants in the welfare reform bill in 1996.   Lugar is a member and former Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.  In 2004, Lugar received the Capitol Award from the National Council of La Raza for his efforts to promote nutrition programs for low-income Americans, especially children.  Lugar also has been recognized by FRAC and the School Nutrition Association, among others for his work in child nutrition.   Internationally, Lugar has been honored by the Friends of the World Food Program with the Leaders in the Fight Against Hunger award for his work to strengthen the U.S. school breakfast and lunch programs, expand food stamps, support food banks, and advance international food aid operations.   ###