Other Education and Youth Issues

The Committee on Education and Labor is committed to addressing all issues that impact the education of America's children, even when those issues go beyond the classroom.

Key Legislation:

Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010
Keeping All Students Safe Act (formerly the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act) »
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act »
Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 »

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

For millions of families, the meals their children receive at school or in child care are their only chance at a healthy meal all day. In 2008, more than 16 million children lived in homes without access to enough nutritious food. America's children should not have to go hungry -- they should have access to healthy foods year round that will help them thrive physically and academically.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (S. 3307) will dramatically improve children?s access to nutritious meals, enhance the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, implement new school food safety guidelines and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools.  This legislation will answer President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's call to reduce childhood hunger and support school and community efforts to reduce childhood obesity.

The legislation:

Improves Access

  • Increases the number of children enrolled in the school meals programs by using Medicaid data to directly certify eligible children. This provision will connect approximately new 115,000 students to the school meals program.
  • Enhances universal meal access for eligible children in high poverty communities by using census data to determine school wide income eligibility. 
  • Provides more meals for at-risk children nationwide by allowing Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) providers to be reimbursed for meals provided to low-income children after school. This provision will provide an additional 21 million meals annually. 
  • Provides funding for innovative state and local projects to address childhood hunger and promote food security for low-income children.  

Increases Focus on Nutrition Quality and Children's Health

  • Improves the nutritional quality of school meals by increasing the federal reimbursement rate for school lunches for districts who comply with federal nutrition standards. This additional 6 cents per meal will be the first real reimbursement rate increase in over 30 years.
  • Removes junk food from schools by applying nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools.
  • Promotes nutrition and wellness in child care settings by establishing nutrition requirements for CACFP.
  • Connects more children to healthy produce from local farms by helping communities establish farm to school networks, create school gardens and use more local foods in cafeterias with $40 million in mandatory funding. 
  • Strengthens local school wellness policies by updating existing requirements, increasing transparency, providing opportunities for community involvement, and compliance measurements.
  • Supports breastfeeding for low-income women by supporting data collection in WIC and permanently authorizing performance bonuses for exemplary breastfeeding practices at WIC clinics and agencies.

Improves Program Management & Program Integrity

  • Supports schools' food service budgets by ensuring charges to school foodservice accounts are only for allowable expenses.
  • Supports a skilled workforce by establishing professional standards and training opportunities for school food service providers. 
  • Streamlines program administration by giving CACFP providers greater flexibility with their administrative funds and eliminating duplicative paperwork requirements and wasteful monitoring practices. 
  • Increases efficiency and modernizes the WIC program by transitioning to an electronic benefit program.
  • Improves food safety requirements for school meals by improving recall procedures and extending existing HACCP requirements to all places where school meals are prepared or served.

Fully Paid For -- At No Cost to Taxpayers

  • Saves $1 billion over 10 years by extending a provision that allows the Secretary of Agriculture to count commodities purchased for market stabilization toward the required level of federal support (in the form of commodity foods) for the National School Lunch Program.
  • Saves approximately $1.3 billion over 10 years by restructuring nutrition education in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) into a new grant program that distributes Federal funds by formula to the States. 
  • Saves approximately $2.2 billion over 10 years by eliminating a temporary SNAP benefit increase provided by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).     

State-Level Support for the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Alabama

  • Alabama PTA
  • Alabama School Nutrition Association
  • Alabama WIC Program
  • Bay Area Food Bank
  • Food Bank of North Alabama
  • Health Action Partnership
  • Jefferson County Department of Health
  • Jefferson County WIC Program
  • Jones Valley Urban Farm
  • Morris Health Center
  • St. Clair County WIC Program
  • Trussville WIC Program
Alaska

  • Alaska Dietetic Association
  • Alaska PTA
  • Alaska School Nurses Association
  • Alaska School Nutrition Association
  • Food Bank of Alaska
  • Maniilaq WIC Program
Arizona

  • Arizona Dietetic Association
  • Grand Canyon Synod - ELCA
  • Hualapai WIC Department
  • Inter Tribal Council of Arizona
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona
  • Navajo Nation WIC Program
  • Planned Parenthood Arizona
  • School Nurses Organization of Arizona
  • School Nutrition Association of Arizona
  • United Food Bank
  • White Mountain Apache WIC Program
Arkansas

  • 5 A Day Coalition
  • Arkansas Action For Healthy Kids
  • Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families
  • Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association, Inc.
  • Arkansas Food Policy Council
  • Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance
  • Arkansas PTA
  • Arkansas School Nurses Association
  • Bull Shoals Food Pantry
  • Carroll County Community Foundation
  • Choctaw Food Bank
  • Community Services Office, Inc.
  • Economic Opportunity Agency of Washington County, Inc.
  • Franklin County Learning Center
  • Helping Hands of Winchester
  • Hope in Action
  • Hughes Christian Outreach Ministries
  • Kids for Health
  • Mountain Home Food Basket
  • No Kid Hungry Arkansas
  • Oak Forest United Methodist Church
  • Ozark Opportunities, Inc.
  • Seven Harvest, Inc.
  • Sustainable Alternatives
  • The Manna House
  • Wildflowers Christian Ministry
California

  • A Family Helping Agency Inc.
  • A World Fit For Kids!
  • Agriculture & Land-Based Training Association
  • Alameda County WIC Program
  • Alameda Point Collaborative
  • Alliance Medical Center WIC Program
  • Antelope Valley Hospital WIC Program
  • Apricot Producers of California
  • Baby Sips
  • Bay Area Lactation Associates (BALA)
  • Bay Area WIC Association
  • Breastfeeding Coalition of Solano County
  • Breastfeeding Task Force of Greater Los Angeles
  • Breastfeeding Task Force of Santa Clara Valley
  • California Association of Nutrition and Activity Programs (CAN-Act)
  • California Center for Public Health Advocacy
  • California Conference of Local Health Department Nutritionists (CCLHDN)
  • California Department of Education
  • California Dietetic Association
  • California District Council Health Professional Auxiliary
  • California Grape & Tree Fruit League
  • California Public Health Association-North
  • California School Health Centers Association
  • California State PTA
  • California State University, Fresno
  • California WIC Association
  • CANFIT
  • Center for Health Leadership
  • Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion
  • Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program
  • Central Valley Indian Health WIC Program
  • Chico Eat Learn Grow
  • City of Long Beach WIC Program
  • Collaboratively Creating Health Access, Opportunities, & Services (cChaos)
  • Community Action Partnership of Kern WIC Program
  • Community Alliance with Family Farmers
  • Community Bridges WIC Program
  • Community Medical Center WIC Program
  • Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley
  • County of Napa WIC Program
  • County of Sonoma DHS WIC Program
  • Cover My Heart
  • CWA
  • Delta Health Care
  • East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital
  • E-Center
  • Family YMCA of the Desert
  • Farm to Table Food Services
  • Feeding America San Diego
  • First 5 Los Angeles
  • First 5 Santa Clara County
  • First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission
  • Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano
  • Food for People, Inc.
  • FOOD Share
  • FoodLink for Tulare County, Inc.
  • Fresh Produce & Floral Council
  • Fresno County WIC Program
  • Fresno Metro Ministry
  • Gardner Family Care Corporation WIC Program
  • Glenn County Health Services
  • Greater Los Angeles Breastfeeding Task Force
  • Grower-Shipper Association of Central California
  • Help Choose Your Life
  • HER Consulting
  • Hill Country Health and Wellness Center
  • Humanist Association of Orange County
  • Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley WIC Program
  • Inland Congregations United for Change
  • Inland Empire Veterans Stand Down
  • Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles
  • Kalusugan Community Services
  • Kernville Union School District
  • Kings County Breastfeeding Coalition
  • Kings County Health Department WIC Program
  • La Leche League of Ukiah
  • La Luna Perinatal Services
  • Lactation Advocates of Northern California
  • Lake County Community Action Agency
  • LEAPS Action Center
  • Long Beach Grows
  • Los Angeles Best Babies Network
  • Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
  • Los Angeles County Office of Education
  • Los Angeles Unified School District
  • Lotus Tribe
  • Lutheran Office of Public Policy - California
  • Marin County WIC Program
  • Maternal and Child Health Access
  • Mendocino County Breastfeeding Coalition
  • Mendocino County WIC Program
  • Mono County WIC Program
  • Monterey County WIC Program
  • Native American Health Center
  • Native Breastfeeding Council
  • Network for a Healthy California-ABC USD
  • Newport Mesa Unified School District - Network for a Healthy California
  • North Coast Opportunities, Community Action
  • North County Health Services WIC Program
  • Northeast Valley Health Corporation
  • Northeastern Rural Health WIC Program
  • Oakland Based Urban Gardens
  • Oakland Leaf
  • Oakland Unified School District
  • Orange County Planned Parenthood WIC Program
  • Outrider Ministries
  • Palomar Pomerado Home Health
  • Pasture Pictures
  • People's Grocery
  • Placer Food Bank
  • Planting Justice
  • Plumas Rural Services WIC Program
  • Private Lactation Consulting, Contra Costa
  • Psi Chi, San Jose State University
  • Public Health Foundation WIC Program
  • Riverside County Community Health Agency Lactation Services
  • Sacramento ACHIEVE
  • San Benito Health Foundation
  • San Diego American Red Cross WIC Program
  • San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
  • San Diego State University Research Foundation WIC
  • San Francisco Breastfeeding promotion Coalition
  • San Francisco Department of Public Health
  • San Francisco WIC Program
  • San Mateo County WIC Program
  • San Ysidro Health Center WIC Program Imperial Beach Office
  • Santa Clara County Public Health Department WIC Program
  • Santa Clara County WIC Program
  • Santa Clara County WIC Program
  • Save Mart Supermarkets
  • Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County
  • Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency
  • Siskiyou County Public Health
  • Siskiyou County WIC Program
  • Slow Food Urban San Diego
  • Solano County WIC Program
  • South Los Angeles Health Projects
  • Southern California Public Health Association (SCPHA)
  • St. Joseph Health System
  • Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles (SEE-LA)
  • Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
  • The Childbirth Connection, LLC
  • The Peace and Justice Community of St. Cross Episcopal Church, Hermosa Beach
  • The Resource Connection - Amador
  • The Sisters of the Holy Family, Fremont
  • Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Inc. WIC Program
  • Tulare County WIC Program
  • Ubuntu Green
  • UCLA High Risk Infant Follow-up Program
  • United Way Silicon Valley
  • Urban and Environmental Policy Institute
  • Valley Presbyterian Hospital
  • Ventura County Public Health WIC Program
  • WalkSanDiego
  • Watts Healthcare Corporation WIC Program
  • Well-Being Center of Novato
  • Yolo County Health Department
Colorado

  • Care and Share Food Bank of Southern Colorado
  • Colorado Children's Campaign
  • Colorado PTA
  • Colorado School Nutrition Association
  • Food Bank for Larimer County
  • LiveWell Colorado
  • Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - Colorado
  • Mesa County WIC Agency
  • Moms for Kids
  • Pueblo City-County Health Department
  • Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
  • Summit Prevention Alliance
  • Weld Food Bank
  • Women of Reform Judaism – Colorado
Connecticut

  • Connecticut Association for Human Services
  • Connecticut Dietetic Association
  • Connecticut Food Association
  • Connecticut Food Bank
  • Connecticut Parent Teacher Student Association
  • Fairfield County WIC Program
  • Foodshare, Inc.
  • Justice and Peace Committee of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chambery/West Hartford
  • The Collaborative Center for Justice, Hartford
  • Uncas Health District
Delaware

  • Delaware Dietetic Association
  • Delaware PTA
  • Delaware School Nurse Association
  • Delaware School Nutrition Association
District of Columbia

  • D.C. Farm to School Network
  • D.C. WIC State Agency
  • United Way National Capital Area
Florida

  • All Faiths Food Bank
  • Bay Area Food Bank
  • Better School Food Sarasota
  • Charity Express Inc.
  • Christ Fellowship Church
  • City of North Miami ACHIEVE
  • CROS Ministries
  • Damayan Garden Project
  • Evangelical Christian Bible Ministries International, Inc.
  • Feeding South Florida
  • First Baptist Church of Lantana
  • Florida Association of Food Banks
  • Florida Association of School Nurses
  • Florida Dietetic Association
  • Florida PTA
  • Florida Public Health Foundation
  • Florida Tomato Exchange
  • Harry Chapin Food Bank
  • Miami Dietetic Association
  • OSAY Child Development Center
  • Palm Beach County Community Food Alliance
  • Palm Beach Harvest Inc.
  • Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
  • Second Harvest North Florida
  • The Peace & Justice Committee of the Florida Benedictine Sisters
  • Treasure Coast Food Bank
Georgia

  • America Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia
  • Cobb & Douglas Public Health
  • Cotillion of the South
  • Feeding the Valley, Inc.
  • Georgia Dietetic Association
  • Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association
  • Georgia Organics
  • Georgia PTA
  • Georgia Public Health Association
  • Georgia School Nutrition Association
  • Health Matters
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta
  • Lithonia WIC Program
  • Piedmont Park Conservancy
  • Queen of Hearts Foundation
  • Second Harvest of South Georgia, Inc.
  • Southside Medical Center WIC/Nutrition Department
  • The Holistic Chamber of Commerce Atlanta
  • The Youth Becoming Healthy Project, Inc.
  • Voices for Georgia's Children
Guam

  • Department of Public Health & Social Services, Bureau of Nutrition Services, WIC Program
Hawaii

  • Bay Clinic Inc.
  • Bay Clinic WIC Program
  • Blueprint for Change
  • Good Beginnings Alliance
  • Hawaii Dietetic Association
  • Hawaii Farmers Union
  • Hawaii Island Rural Health Association
  • Kau Rural Health Community Association Inc.
  • Lanai Community Health Center
  • Malama I Ke Ola Health Center WIC Program
  • Rural Maui
  • Wahiawa WIC Program
  • Waimanalo Health Center
  • Waimanalo Market

House Expected to Vote on Child Nutrition Bill This Week

This week, the House is expected to vote on S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the child nutrition reauthorization legislation that has already passed unanimously in the Senate. The legislation would dramatically improve the quality of meals children eat in school and in child care, increase the number of healthy meals available to needy children and provide the first real increase in the Federal reimbursement rate for school lunches in over 30 years. The legislation would also eliminate junk food from schools by requiring schools, for the first time, to apply nutritional standards to food served outside the cafeteria.

Listen to Chairman Miller, Speaker Pelosi and other legislators discuss the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on a November 29 press conference call.   
Chairman Miller, alongside NFL representatives, visited Pinole Valley High School on Monday to talk to students and parents in his congressional district about the dangers of concussions and unveil a new CDC poster that helps athletes understand the signs and symptoms of a concussion. The West County Times reported:

“A national campaign aimed at curtailing the number of brain injuries suffered by student athletes was introduced Monday at Pinole Valley High School, where a concussion awareness poster was unveiled at a news conference held by federal officials and representatives of the National Football League.

“‘There was a time when athletes who left the field because of a concussion were told to suck it up and go back out and play,’ said Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez. Instead, he said, athletes should be told, ‘When in doubt, sit it out.’

“The poster being distributed by the federal Centers for Disease Control is similar to one now found in NFL locker rooms and describes possible symptoms on brain injuries that could be worsened if not diagnosed.”

Chairman Miller also spoke about legislation he recently introduced, the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act. San Francisco’s ABC affiliate, KGO, reported:

“Miller has introduced legislation that would set safety standards for public schools in dealing with concussions. This after hearing horror stories from student athletes during a Congressional hearing.

“‘In one case, a student is fully disabled because of an injury in a softball game with multiple concussions [which were] improperly diagnosed,’ says Miller.

“The stories were enough to move Miller to carry the ball on the danger of concussions.”

Watch a Contra Costa Times report on Chairman Miller's press conference below:


Concussion Safety and Awareness is a Priority: News of the Day

| Comments (1)
In the past four years, there were nearly 400,000 reported concussions in high school athletes. These young athletes are at the highest risk for long-term brain damage from concussions and often are not even aware that the injury has occurred.

The Education and Labor Committee today held a hearing on legislation that would better educate students, parents and coaches about the danger of concussions in young athletes. Witnesses included a former NFL player, a neurologist, a high school athlete and a mother grieving the loss of her young son. CNN reported on the hearing:

“The House Education and Labor Committee's hearing came after news last week about the first active college football player known to have a debilitating condition usually seen in retired or aging athletes who've suffered repeated head injuries.

“Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy revealed that a 21-year-old defensive lineman, Owen Thomas, had mild stages of a type of brain damage called chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

“Thomas, a captain of the University of Pennsylvania football team and a student at the Wharton School of Business, hung himself in his room in April.

 “Owen Thomas, 21, was found to have mild stages of a type of brain damage called chronic traumatic encephalopathyCTE, which is a type of brain damage, has been more typically seen in older former athletes and can cause neurobehavioral disorders and bizarre behavior, including suicide. It is impossible to determine whether Thomas' brain condition and suicide were linked.

“‘The only possible explanation we can see for the presence of CTE is that Owen started to play football at the age of 9,’ his mother, Rev. Katherine Brearley of Allentown, Pennsylvania, said in her testimony at the hearing.”

The Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act would help improve concussion safety and management for student athletes by requiring school districts to develop and implement a community-based plan for concussion safety and management.

And it’s not just football players who are at higher risk, as witness Alison Conca-Cheng showed. USA Today wrote:

“That point was brought home by Alison Conca-Cheng, a 17-year-old high school soccer player and honors student from Ellicott City, Md., who suffered a concussion when she collided with a teammate's head in a practice game.

“‘I had tunnel vision,’ she told the committee. ‘Then I had severe balance problems and lingering headaches. I was dazed and confused.’

“Conca-Cheng had taken a pre-season computerized baseline concussion test, which she was required to repeat after the injury. In two attempts, she failed to match her pre-injury scores on tests of short-term memory and reading and was kept out of practice for two weeks.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – New legislation to set minimum safety standards for concussion management in public schools across the country would help protect student athletes, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. At the hearing, the National Football League (NFL) endorsed the legislation in a letter to U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, noting, “The NFL is grateful for the opportunity to work closely with you in developing this important legislation which will further our shared goals of increasing concussion awareness and preventing these injuries among our youngest athletes, not only in football but in all sports.” 
Today, while members of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee held a hearing on concussions among young athletes, the medical journal Pediatrics published a study that showed a steady increase in traumatic brain injuries among youth basketball players. The authors concluded that, “the large number of injuries in this popular sport is cause for concern.”

CNN Health summarized the report and its implications:

“More and more children and teenagers are suffering traumatic brain injuries while playing basketball, according to a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

“Researchers examined emergency room visits of people under the age of 20 who were treated for basketball related injuries between 1997 and 2007 and found the number of traumatic brain injuries shot up  by 70%.

“Overall the proportion for traumatic brain injury doubled for boys and tripled for girls, said senior study author Dr. Laura B. McKenzie.

“Coaches, athletes and parents need to understand what can cause traumatic brain injuries and learn to recognize a possible concussion  according to McKenzie.”

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy of New York today chaired a field hearing in Long Island to explore the prevalence of concussions among youth athletes and examine the best prevention strategies. Witnesses included two former NFL players, a high school athletic trainer, and a former high school athlete who suffered numerous concussions. After hearing their testimony, committee members concluded “legislative action is needed to ensure safety in all high schools.”

Today’s hearing marks the second time the Education and Labor Committee has investigated the prevalence of concussions in youth sports and its impact on academic outcomes.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Promoting community involvement and engagement about concussion management can help protect youth athletes from the risks of concussion both on the athletic field and in the classroom, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee’s Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. The hearing highlighted best practices for educating schools, parents, and young people about the risk of concussions, protocols for avoiding head injury and procedures for safe care after such injuries.
 
“The risk of concussions for millions of the nation’s young people who play high school sports has received too little attention,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities. “We must change the 'warrior mentality' culture that discourages immediate treatment, and I look forward to working with Chairman Miller, Rep. Bishop and my colleagues on how we can address this issue.”

The Impact of Concussions on High School Athletes: The Local Perspective

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing 11:00 AM, September 13, 2010 Montauk Point Room, 2nd floor of the Babylon Student Center, Suffolk County Community College-Ammerman Campus
Selden, New York
On Monday, September 13th, the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), held a field hearing in Long Island, New York to explore how schools and communities can help raise awareness of the risks of concussions and improve concussion management for students.

In May, the committee held a hearing that looked at the effect of concussions on student achievement. Witnesses testified that student athletes’ academic performance in school suffers when concussions are not properly managed. Each year, about 140,000 high school athletes suffer concussions.


Child Nutrition Legislation Supporters Urge Passage: News of the Day

As children return to classrooms to begin the new school year, nutrition advocates are speaking out about child nutrition legislation before the House of Representatives. The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act was passed by the Education and Labor Committee in July and would greatly increase access to school meal programs, both during school and in after-school and community-based programs.

Vicki B. Escara, President and CEO of Feeding America, published an op-ed in the Huffington Post urging passage of Chairman Miller’s bill. She wrote:

“… for low-income families who struggle to overcome hunger, back-to-school season brings an end to the strain of putting additional meals on the table when the free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches are unavailable.”



“Every child in America should have enough to eat regardless of the season -- summer, fall, winter or spring. Children need access to nutritious food year-round, so why shouldn't the programs that serve them be able to operate year-round? With a gap of nearly 17 million children unserved by summer feeding programs, we ought to do everything we can to make it easier for food banks and other community-based providers to reach children in the summer. Passage of Chairman Miller's child nutrition bill is an important first step to making sure no child goes hungry next summer.

José Andrés, an internationally-known chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup, also commented on the need to pass childhood nutrition legislation in a column published in the Atlantic:

“The lunch ladies, the administrators, the people who feed our kids want to do better. But they are limited by one thing: a lack of money. The federal government spends about $2.51 per child per day to feed them lunch. Out of that you have to pay for labor, facilities, and administrative costs, leaving about a dollar for food. Imagine trying to feed yourself a nutritious meal every day with only a dollar. Very difficult. Now imagine trying to do that while satisfying the picky palate of a typical school kid.

“Right now, we have an opportunity to change that. Every five years, Congress takes another look at the issue when the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act is voted on, opening the door for discussion about possible improvements to these programs as well as increased funding. Among other things, the CNR provides money for and sets nutritional guidelines school for school lunch programs. Every five years it comes up for renewal. It is the most important piece of legislation that no one has ever heard of.”

The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act increases the federal reimbursement rate for the first time in 30 years.

Vicki B. Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America, has a post at Huffington Post about why the House Child Nutrition Bill is Better for Children.

She said:

The House Education and Labor Committee approved a strong bill in July, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act of 2010 (H.R.5504). This bill includes many of the same improvements to nutritional quality as the Senate bill but does far more to invest in increased program access. The House bill would significantly increase access to food at breakfast, after-school, on weekends, and during the summer. Children need access to food every day, before, during, and after school, and the House provides much-needed improvements to address these gap periods.

The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010 pays particular attention to increasing access because hunger doesn't take a summer vacation or stop at the end of the school day.

Specifically, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act improves access to school meal programs by:

  • Increasing the number of eligible children enrolled in the school lunch programs by using Medicaid/SCHIP data to directly certify children who meet income requirements without requiring individual applications and requiring states to establish and execute a plan to increase rates of direct certification.
  • Providing enhanced universal meal access for eligible children in high poverty communities by eliminating paper applications and using census data to determine school wide income eligibility.
  • Increasing children’s access to healthy school breakfasts by providing competitive grants to school districts to start up or improve their program.
It also improves access to out of school meal programs by:

  • Ensuring fewer children go hungry year round by providing meals for over 225,000 children through seamless meal service for children in school based and community based summer and after-school programs, and in low income rural areas. 
  • Improving access for children in home-based child care by reducing administrative costs for sponsors of child care meal programs.
Learn more about the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010.

Report links school meals with higher attendance : News of the Day

As schools return from their summer break, many students will again have their only chance at a healthy meal all day. And those meals are key according to a new report by Georgetown University Assistant Professor of Public Policy Peter Hinrichs. 

According to the Associated Press, Mr. Hinrichs said:

"The research found that the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has not had a dramatic effect on health into adulthood, but it has had a significant effect on educational attainment," Hinrichs said. "The NSLP today is still broad in its reach, but it targets poorer children. There are higher standards for eligibility and also special funding for poorer schools. Had these elements been in place at the inception of the program, there may have been a more detectable effect on health in its early years."

That is why under H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010, the program increases the number of eligible children enrolled in the school lunch programs by using Medicaid/SCHIP data to directly certify children who meet income requirements without requiring individual applications and requiring states to establish and execute a plan to increase rates of direct certification. It also provides enhanced universal meal access for eligible children in high poverty communities by eliminating paper applications and using census data to determine school wide income eligibility. The more eligible students who are having a regular, nutritious lunch the more students will be performing in the classroom.

The bill passed out of committee and is awaiting a vote on the House floor. 

Learn more about H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act of 2010.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the “Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act” 
First Lady Michelle Obama refers to pending child nutrition legislation as “a major opportunity to make our schools and our children healthier… an opportunity we haven't seen in years, and one that is too important to let pass by” and urges swift passage of a child nutrition bill in a recent Washington Post op-ed. The Education and Labor Committee approved the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act on a bipartisan vote in July. The First Lady continues:

“We owe it to the children who aren't reaching their potential because they're not getting the nutrition they need during the day. We owe it to the parents who are working to keep their families healthy and looking for a little support along the way. We owe it to the schools that are trying to make progress but don't have the resources they need. And we owe it to our country -- because our prosperity depends on the health and vitality of the next generation.”

Hers is a sentiment shared by many – that there is no more important investment we can make for our country’s future than feeding our children healthy meals. Television host and author Rachael Ray has also been vocal on the issue, appearing with Chairman George Miller to introduce the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act and publishing an op-ed in today’s issue of the Albany Times-Union. Ray also pushes for quick passage of a child nutrition bill and argues passionately in favor of the legislation:

“Nearly 17 million American children struggle against hunger. For these children, school food programs are sometimes the only access they have to food. At the same time, one in three American kids is overweight or suffering from childhood obesity, because their families simply cannot afford fresh, nutritious foods. School food systems are one of the few ways we have to provide good nutrition to all of our kids.


“Child hunger and malnutrition in the world's wealthiest nation is morally unacceptable. The U.S. economy loses at least $28 billion per year due to poor school performance and long-term health care spending due to poor child nutrition. We can pay now or pay a much greater price in every sense later.”

News of the Day: Obese children find options limited

The Portland Press Herald published an op-ed this morning about the importance of reforming the Child Nutrition Act: Overweight recruits hurt our military readiness and national security.

They say:

Being overweight or obese is the leading medical reason why young Americans cannot join the military. Over the last 30 years, child obesity rates have tripled. One study found that 80 percent of children who were overweight at ages 10-15 were obese at age 25.

Here in Maine, 41.2 percent of youths from ages 18 to 24 are overweight or obese. In addition to hindering our military preparedness, obesity also costs the American people billions in medical expenses every year.

From the mid-1990s to 2000, the state of Maine spent $375 million per year on obesity-related medical expenses. This data is 10 years old -- Maine's current expenditures are surely much higher today.

What can we do to address the problem? One way is to improve the quality of food and beverages served in our schools. The school environment is critical for shaping the eating and exercise habits of our youth.

...

The White House has proposed additional resources for a robust child nutrition reauthorization package that would reduce child obesity and improve the diets of children. Current proposals in the House and Senate include provisions that will raise the quality of all foods and beverages served in schools by requiring the secretary of agriculture to establish new nutrition standards that are consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

"Mission: Readiness" strongly supports these provisions and urges Congress to enact reauthorization legislation immediately.

By applying increased nutritional standards to all foods sold on school grounds, expanding access to healthier meals, and supporting schools in implementing proven programs that educate children and their families about healthy eating and exercise, we can get junk food and high-calorie beverages out of schools and out of our children's daily diets.

Recent research provides strong evidence that receiving school meals can help low-income children maintain a healthy weight.
Watch Major General Paul D. Monroe, U.S. Army (Ret.) of th Executive Advisory Council of Mission: Readiness, testify at a hearing about H.R.5504, Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act on July 1, 2010 after the jump.

News of the Day: Expanding Access to Healthy Meals

boy-lunch-tray.JPGNutritious meals often prove too expensive for families struggling to make ends meet. As an NPR report demonstrated on Tuesday, nutrient-rich foods and drinks are often replaced by cheaper, less healthy substitutes:

"A gallon of milk is $3-something. A bottle of orange soda is 89 cents…Do the math."

The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, recently approved by the Education and Labor Committee on a bipartisan vote, aims to help solve this problem by increasing access to nutritious foods year-round in school, after school, during holidays, on the weekends, and during the summer. Among other improvements to childhood nutrition programs, the legislation increases the reimbursement rate for school lunch for the first time in more than 30 years – a move that will significantly increase the availability of healthy foods to children. Cliff Toomey of the Indian River School District in Delaware attests to the importance of the increase in today’s News Journal:

“‘Higher reimbursement rates would mean more food choices,’ he said. ‘It would allow us to possibly go with more fresh fruits and vegetables.’”

Today, approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to nutritious food and one in three children is overweight or obese. Pam Fessler of NPR succinctly describes the relationship between hunger and obesity:

 “Hunger in America is complicated. It's not just getting enough food, but getting the right food — and making the right choices.”

Quiz: How many young Americans are too overweight to join the military?

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Q: How many young Americans are too overweight to join the military?

  • 9 percent
  • 16 percent
  • 27 percent
  • 65 percent

Continue reading for the answer.
The Education and Labor Committee today approved the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act with a bipartisan vote of 32 to 13. The legislation expands year-round access to healthy meals in schools, afterschool programs, and other child care settings for our nation’s students. The legislation aims to significantly reduce the interrelated problems of childhood hunger and childhood obesity by recognizing that nutritional needs don’t take a summer vacation.

After the vote, First Lady Michelle Obama released her first-ever formal statement on pending legislation. She praising the committee for its work on her signature issue: reducing childhood obesity. The First Lady stated:

“I congratulate Chairman Miller and the House Education and Labor Committee on the successful bipartisan passage of a child nutrition reauthorization bill out of the Committee today. This important legislation will combat hunger and provide millions of schoolchildren with access to healthier meals, a critical step in the battle against childhood obesity. I urge both the House and Senate to take their child nutrition bills to the floor and pass them without delay. The President looks forward to signing a final bill this year, so that we can make significant progress in improving the nutrition and health of children across our nation.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Education and Labor Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to support children’s health and reduce childhood hunger by dramatically  improving federal child nutrition programs. The Committee passed the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, H.R. 5504 with a bipartisan vote of 32-13.

The bill includes sweeping reforms to significantly increase access and remove barriers to child nutrition programs, improve the quality of the meals served and implement new school food safety guidelines. The bill would increase the reimbursement rate for schools -- the first increase in over 30 years. Additionally, for the first time, it would require schools to set standards for foods served outside the cafeteria, including vending machines.

Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act

Full Committee Markup 2:00 PM, July 14, 2010 2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC


On Wednesday, July 14, and Thursday July 15, the House Education and Labor Committee considered bipartisan legislation to expand access and improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care. The committee examined H.R. 5504, the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” earlier this month.


The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.

H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.

TODAY: Committee to Consider Child Nutrition Bill

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Note: The Committee will resume consideration of H.R. 5504 at 10am on Thursday, July 15.

Today, the Committee will consider the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act to expand access and improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care.

The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.

H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and Congressman George Miller (D-Calif.) , Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor today sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to make child nutrition reauthorization a top legislative priority before current programs expire on September 30 of this year.  

Lincoln delivered the letter to the President during a meeting at the White House where she was joined by other Senate leaders to discuss legislative priorities before the August recess. Lincoln’s “Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act” passed the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously in March and now awaits consideration by the full Senate. The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a mark up on its version of child nutrition reauthorization legislation – the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” – tomorrow, July 14.


“As recent reports have shown, the occurrence of hunger and childhood obesity among our nation’s children is unacceptably high—especially in my home state of Arkansas. We have an historic opportunity to put our country on a path toward ending childhood hunger and reversing the trend of childhood obesity with a strong child nutrition reauthorization. We cannot afford to make American children and families wait any longer for a bill that will make real progress toward ending childhood hunger and obesity. I know that the President shares my goal of addressing this important priority, and I ask him to please join our efforts to ensure that passage of child nutrition legislation is a top legislative priority in the coming months,” said Lincoln.

“In this economy, millions of families rely on the child nutrition programs as a nutritional safety net for their children to ensure they are able to focus and learn in school. Children need healthy meals to be able to grow and thrive in the classroom and in life. If we allow our children’s health to dwindle, if we allow more children to hungry by not taking swift action with this legislation, we fail our children, their families and the future of this country. We have a real opportunity to make dramatic reforms to help prevent hunger, to improve children’s health and increase access to healthy meals. The health and academic success of an entire generation of children is at stake,” said Miller.


Full text of the letter is below:

This Week: Mine Safety Hearing and Vote on Child Nutrition Bill

On Tuesday, July 13, 2010, the Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on “H.R. 5663, the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010.” H.R. 5663 will bring our nation’s mine health and safety laws up to date, give MSHA the ability to effectively protect miners’ lives, hold mine operators accountable for putting their workers in unnecessary danger, and expand protections to all other workers by strengthening OSHA.

In April, 29 miners were killed at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, the worst coal mine disaster in America in 40 years. In the last decade, more than 600 miners have died while working in our nation’s mines.

On Wednesday, July 14, the House Education and Labor Committee will consider bipartisan legislation to expand access and improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care. The committee examined H.R. 5504, the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” earlier this month.

The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.

H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.
On Wednesday July 14th, the Education and Labor Committee will vote on H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act. Recognizing that students need access to nutritious meals year round in order to succeed in school, the legislation would provide eligible children with increased access to healthier, nutritious foods. Approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children is overweight or obese-- it’s clear that nutritional needs don’t take a summer break.

Communities around the county are taking steps to provide their students with year-round access to quality meals and are demonstrating why ensuring access to healthy food is vital:

In Sioux City, SD, increasing numbers of children are eating healthy meals through the Summer Food Service Program, which serves children from low-income families. The Argus Leader reported:

“At the YWCA in downtown Sioux Falls on Wednesday, primarily elementary-aged boys and girls filed through a serving line while workers filled their trays with a sloppy joe sandwich, green beans, pineapple and milk. On average, the agency dishes out 220 lunches and 110 breakfasts each weekday, said Karla Johnson, director of child care services.

“‘There's no question in my mind that this program is really helping those children and their families. And we're seeing more of that,’ she said.”

According to the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore’s Pimlico Road Youth Program has been similarly successful and has witnessed increased need for their services. The Baltimore Sun reported:

“Workers at the Northwest Baltimore center say at least half the students have come to depend on the sponsored meals to tide them over for the evening, food that serves as a substitute for the free lunches the children receive during the school year.

“With school out, state and federal officials say about 25 percent of the 328,000 low-income Maryland children who received free school meals during the year got them last summer. The numbers, however, are on the rise.”

Committee to Consider Child Nutrition Legislation

On Wednesday, July 14, the House Education and Labor Committee will consider bipartisan legislation to expand access and improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care. The committee examined H.R. 5504, the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” earlier this month.

The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.

H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.  

WHAT:         
Full Committee Markup of H.R. 5504, the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act”.

WHEN:         
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
2:00 p.m. ET
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Note: This markup will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. 

Rep. Lynn Woolsey: Fighting Childhood Obesity at School

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Lynn Woolsey, Education and Labor Committee Member.)

It’s been 30 years since the regulations limiting junk food sales in schools were updated, despite big changes in nutrition science.‪

Today, 23 million children and adolescents are obese or overweight.‪

Obesity rates for children between 6 and 11 years old have more than tripled over the last 40 years. ‪

Throughout their lives, these children are at greater risk for heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, stroke, cancer, and social and psychological problems.‪

One of the most important ways to help fight this epidemic is to ensure that higher quality, more nutritious foods are sold throughout the day in our schools.‪

This is why I have introduced H.R. 1324, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, which requires that all foods sold in schools throughout the entire school day are based on the most current nutrition science.‪

This bill has 170 cosponsors and has been endorsed by over 90 public health, school, food and beverage industry, and nutrition groups, including the American Beverage Association, General Mills, and the American Heart Association.‪ I am pleased that this language has been included in Chairman George Miller's (D-CA) H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act.

This provision does not affect school parties or foods sold during sporting events or band concerts in which parents are present. It only regulates foods sold in schools, and allows USDA to exempt foods sold as part of fundraisers. It’s also important to realize that schools that are switching to selling healthier foods and are not losing revenue.‪

Studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control, and the Center for Weight and Health at U.C. Berkeley found that the majority of schools switching to healthier foods in their vending machines and a la carte lines actually increased their total revenues.

‪In other words, it is a win-win situation for schools—healthier students and a healthier bottom line as well‪‪

H.R.5504, Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act

Full Committee Hearing 9:15 AM, July 1, 2010 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Thursday, July 1, 2010, the House Education and Labor Committee will examine the “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act,” bipartisan legislation to improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care settings introduced earlier this month. The bill would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings and for the first time, establish nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.

Currently, over 32 million children rely on the federal child nutrition programs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leading members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives released a summary and discussion draft today of major reforms responding to serious health and safety concerns raised by workers and their families since Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine tragedy and other recent workplace accidents.

The reforms would provide stronger oversight to ensure that employers comply with the law, empower workers to speak up about safety concerns and give the Department of Labor the tools it needs to ensure that all workers go home safely at the end of the day.

News of the Day: Fewer hungry children getting free summer meals

The AP has a story this morning about how fewer hungry children are getting free summer meals.

Mary Clare Jalonick reports:

Hungry children looking for a free meal this summer may not be able to find one.

States and cities have cut funding for summer meal programs as need has skyrocketed, according to a new report from an anti-hunger group that tracked the program in 2009. Budget woes that have left many families hungry are also affecting local governments that find themselves without the needed dollars to feed children while they are out of school.

"Low-income children across the country clearly bore the brunt of budget cuts," said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center, which compiled the report to be released Tuesday.

Summer nutrition programs aim to feed children who get most of their nutrition — or sometimes their only real meal of the day — at school. The food research group measures the effectiveness of those summer programs by comparing the number of low-income children receiving meals during the summer with those receiving free and reduced-price school meals during the school year.
One reason why Chairman Miller is pushing so hard for the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010 is because children shouldn't go hungry. This bill would, among other things, improve access to out of school meal programs by ensuring fewer children go hungry year round by providing meals for over 225,000 children through seamless meal service for children in school based and community based summer and after-school programs, and in low income rural areas. It will also improve access for children in home-based child care by reducing administrative costs for sponsors of child care meal programs.

The Committee will hold a hearing on H.R.5504, Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act on Thursday at 9:15 ET. We invite you to watch via our live webcast.



News of the Day: Cyberbullying and Schools

The New York Times published a page one article today on how Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray and the complicated world of teens and technology.

The Times reports:

Schools these days are confronted with complex questions on whether and how to deal with cyberbullying, an imprecise label for online activities ranging from barrages of teasing texts to sexually harassing group sites. The extent of the phenomenon is hard to quantify. But one 2010 study by the Cyberbullying Research Center, an organization founded by two criminologists who defined bullying as "willful and repeated harm” inflicted through phones and computers, said one in five middle-school students had been affected.

Affronted by cyberspace’s escalation of adolescent viciousness, many parents are looking to schools for justice, protection, even revenge. But many educators feel unprepared or unwilling to be prosecutors and judges.

Often, school district discipline codes say little about educators’ authority over student cellphones, home computers and off-campus speech. Reluctant to assert an authority they are not sure they have, educators can appear indifferent to parents frantic with worry, alarmed by recent adolescent suicides linked to bullying.

Whether resolving such conflicts should be the responsibility of the family, the police or the schools remains an open question, evolving along with definitions of cyberbullying itself.

Nonetheless, administrators who decide they should help their cornered students often face daunting pragmatic and legal constraints.
Confronted with questions such as these, the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee held a hearing on Ensuring Student Cyber Safety on June 24, 2010.

Watch Dr. Phil and Dominique Napolitano, a teen member of Girl Scouts, discuss cyber safety after the jump.

News of the Day: Dr. Phil testifies on cyber bullying

Yesterday, Dr. Phil McGraw joined 5 other witnesses to talk about ensuring student cyber safety. He told Politico, ""The Wild Wild West is now the Wild Wild Web, with the new gunslingers being the keyboard bullies."

In an interview with CBS Early Show, Dr. Phil said, "So much of what's going on today is beyond parents because our kids are much more computer literate than we are. They can Photoshop pictures and put a child in a humiliating or embarrassing situation. They write e-mails, write letters, and so often we see these kids become isolated, withdrawn, they stop going to school. And they can even, as we have seen so tragically with situations like Phoebe Prince, can wind up actually taking their lives. I mean, this is a terrible burden on these kids. We've got to give the educators the tools they need to prevent this, to intervene in this. It requires training. They need to know how to intervene when it is happening. We've got to raise awareness about this."

CNN reported his testimony, "McGraw told the subcommittee that kids who are cyberbullied are 1.9 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.

'I get tens of thousands of letters at 'The Dr. Phil Show' of kids asking for help about this. It is a serious crisis -- 42 percent of kids say they have been bullied on the internet, 35 percent of kids say they have been threatened.'"

Watch Dr. Phil's testimony below the fold and learn more about the ensuring student cyber safety hearing.

Ensuring Student Cyber Safety

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing 10:00 AM, June 24, 2010 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Thursday, June 24, 2010, the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, chaired by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), held a hearing to examine rising safety concerns about students using the Internet, social networking and other technology, especially the increased occurrence of cyber bullying. The hearing will also explore the role schools, students, parents and communities can play to keep students safe.

A recent Pew survey shows in 2009, 73 percent of American teens with access to the Internet use social networking websites, up from 65 percent in 2008. The survey also shows that American teens and young adults say the Internet is a central and indispensable element in their lives.
The Contra Costa Times highlights a problem that many communities face as schools finish for the year.

Thousands of Contra Costa County children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches during the school year. But come summer vacation, many of them no longer have access to regular meals.

"During the summer, they don't have that program and the resources of families are stretched," said Barbara Jellison, food services director for the West Contra Costa Unified School District. "I don't think they get the nutrition that they need."

Chairman Miller's Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010 addresses this problem directly. It would ensure fewer children go hungry year round by providing meals for over 225,000 children through seamless meal service for children in school-based and community-based summer and after-school programs, and in low income rural areas.

Learn more about the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act of 2010.

Subcommittee to Examine Cyber Safety for Students

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, June 24, 2010, the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, chaired by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), will hold a hearing to examine rising safety concerns about students using the Internet, social networking and other technology, especially the increased occurrence of cyber bullying. The hearing will also explore the role schools, students, parents and communities can play to keep students safe.

A recent Pew survey shows in 2009, 73 percent of American teens with access to the Internet use social networking websites, up from 65 percent in 2008. The survey also shows that American teens and young adults say the Internet is a central and indispensable element in their lives.

WHAT:         
Hearing on “Ensuring Student Cyber Safety”

WHO:            
Dr. Phil McGraw, syndicated daytime television talk show host and best-selling author, Hollywood, Calif.
Parry Aftab, Executive Director, WiredSafety, Wyckoff, N.J.
Dominique Napolitano, teen member of Girl Scouts of the USA’s Let Me Know (LMK) program, West Islip, N.Y.
Barbara-Jane Paris, Principal, Canyon Vista Middle School, Austin, Texas 
Dr. Jorge Srabstein, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.
Other Witnesses TBA

WHEN:         
Thursday, June 24, 2010
10:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The meals children eat during and after school and in child care would be dramatically improved under bipartisan legislation introduced today by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, U.S. Rep. Todd Russell Platts (R-PA), ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, and other lawmakers.

At a press conference, daytime host, author and child nutrition advocate Rachael Ray urged swift passage of the bill.

The legislation, “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children,” will dramatically improve the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, support community efforts to reduce childhood hunger and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools.  Nationally, one-third of children are either overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

“We are on the brink of a national crisis with our children’s health. The barriers that prevent children from accessing quality meals mean more children are at risk of obesity and poor nutrition and this has serious implications for the health and well-being of the future of this country,” said Miller. “This legislation creates a nutritional safety net for millions of children who rely on the child nutrition programs by meeting children’s nutritional needs at every step along the way -- in school, on the weekends and during the summer. Child hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation” 

Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act of 2010

Improving Meal Quality, Expanding Access and Filling Nutritional Gaps

For millions of families, the meals their children receive at school or in child care are their only chance at a healthy meal all day. In 2008, more than 16 million children lived in homes without access to enough nutritious food. America’s children should not have to go hungry – they should have access to healthy foods year round that will help them thrive physically and academically.

We expect children to come to school prepared to learn but hunger and poor nutrition can present major barriers to their success in the classroom. And, since hunger does not take a summer vacation, providing children with year round access to healthier, nutritious foods means children won’t go hungry just because school is out.

The Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act (H.R. 5504) will dramatically improve children’s access to nutritious meals, enhance the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, implement new school food safety guidelines and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. (Original bill text)

This new legislation, which was amended and passed by the Committee on July 14, 2010, will answer President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to reduce childhood hunger and support school and community efforts to reduce childhood obesity. (Supporters of H.R. 5504)

Specifically, these new investments in child nutrition will:

Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers to Introduce New Child Nutrition Legislation

Daytime Host and Author Rachael Ray to Join Lawmakers to Unveil New Legislation to Put Children on a Path to a Healthier Future

On Thursday, June 10 at 11:00am Eastern, Chairman George Miller and Reps. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Todd Russell Platts (R-PA) will unveil the details of new legislation to dramatically improve the quality of meals children eat both in and out of school and in child care settings, support community efforts to reduce childhood hunger and, for the first time, establish nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools. 

The lawmakers will be joined by daytime host, author and child nutrition advocate Rachael Ray and anti-hunger and child nutrition advocates.

The “Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act” mirrors key investments proposed by President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in her “Let’s Move” initiative, including reducing childhood obesity, improving school wellness,  implementing new school food safety guidelines, and supporting public and private partnerships to improve child nutrition.
Last Thursday the Committee heard testimony from the GAO about concussions in high school sports. It was concerning because concussions occur with alarming frequency, but it's impossible to know exactly how often because of gaps in how the injuries are reported.

The USA Today reported:

A recent clinical study by the Children's National Medical Center in Washington found that more than 80% of student athletes who experienced concussions reported a significant worsening of symptoms over the first four weeks after attempting to return to school academics.

"The typical concentration and memory requirements of school place significant demands on the brain's biological software," Gerard Gioia, chief of pediatric neuropsychology at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, says in testimony prepared for a Thursday hearing before the House Education and Labor Committee. "When these cognitive demands are placed on a brain in an impaired state, the result is an increase in post-concussion symptoms."
Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Heads Up in-school website.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Student athletes’ academic performance in school suffers as a result of concussions, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee,  issued the following statement today after the White House released its report “Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation: A Report to the President from the Task Force on Childhood Obesity.” 
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) today with U.S. Reps. Zach Wamp (R-TN), George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, fitness  guru Richard Simmons, and representatives from the American Heart Association, Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association (SGMA), and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) celebrated the passage of the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act, which combats childhood obesity by strengthening physical education programs in schools across the country. Click here for photos of the event.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Education and Labor Committee works to reauthorize Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the committee should implement significant policy changes that will spur systemic change, prevent juvenile delinquency, provide appropriate treatment and create safer communities, witnesses told the committee today.

Reforming the Juvenile Justice System to Improve Children’s Lives and Public Safety

Full Committee Hearing 10:00 AM, April 21, 2010 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Wednesday, April 21st, the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing to explore how reforming the juvenile justice system can help increase public safety and protect children’s well-being.  This is the first full committee hearing of the 111th Congress looking at the reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).

Committee to Examine Reforming the Juvenile Justice System

On Wednesday, April 21st, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to explore how reforming the juvenile justice system can help increase public safety and protect children’s well-being.  This is the first full committee hearing of the 111th Congress looking at the reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).

WHAT:        
Hearing on “Reforming the Juvenile Justice System to Improve Children’s Lives and Public Safety”
               
WHO:            
Michael Belton, Deputy Director of Juvenile Corrections, Ramsey County, Minnesota
A. Hasan Davis, Deputy Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice
Tracy McClard, mother of a child who committed suicide in an adult jail, Jackson, Missouri
Judge Steven Teske, Juvenile Court, Clayton County, Georgia
John Solberg, Executive Director, Rawhide Boys Ranch, New London, Wisconsin
                       
WHEN:         
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:   
   
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. 

Corporal Punishment in Schools and its Effect on Academic Success

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing 10:00 AM, April 15, 2010 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry released the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a bill that will help improve child nutrition across the nation.

Meeting the Challenges Faced by Girls in the Juvenile Justice System

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing 10:30 AM, March 11, 2010
Please note the time for this hearing has changed to 10:30 a.m.

In light of the rising number of girls in the nation’s juvenile justice system, on Thursday, March 11th the House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities held a hearing to examine the unique challenges girls face in today’s juvenile justice system as the committee works toward reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act. Among other things, the subcommittee will examine confinement conditions, mental health, victimization, and public safety.

Subcommittee to Examine Challenges Girls Face in Juvenile Justice System

Please note the time for this hearing has changed to 10:30 a.m.

In light of the rising number of girls in the nation’s juvenile justice system, on Thursday, March 11th the House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities will hold a hearing to examine the unique challenges girls face in today’s juvenile justice system as the committee works toward reauthorizing the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act. Among other things, the subcommittee will examine confinement conditions, mental health,  victimization, and public safety.

WHAT:        
Hearing on “Meeting the Challenges Faced by Girls in the Juvenile Justice System”      
               
WHO:           
Professor Francine Sherman
Clinical Professor and Director
Juvenile Rights Advocacy Project
Boston College Law School
Newton, MA
The Honorable J. Brian Huff
Jefferson County, Birmingham, AL
Ms. Rachel Carrion
Community Connections for Youth, Board Member
New York, NY
Professor Linda A. Teplin
Director of the Psycho-legal Studies Program
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Cameron Romer
York County Probation Officer
York, PA
Gary Ivory
Southwest President and National Director of Program Development
Youth Advocate Programs
Harrisburg, PA

                       
WHEN:         
Thursday, March 11, 2010
10:30 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. 
Yesterday, in response to a recent government investigation that found widespread allegations that children were being abused through misuses of restraint and seclusion in classrooms, the U.S. House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation to protect children from inappropriate uses of these practices in schools. The Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 4247) passed by a vote of 262 to 153.

On the House floor, Chairman Miller gave a passionate closing statement and co-sponsor Rep. McMorris Rodgers gave a impassioned speech in favor of this act.

ABC News had a story last night highlighting the abuses from the government investigation and how the Keeping All Students Safe Act would do just that.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a recent government investigation that found widespread allegations that children were being abused through misuses of restraint and seclusion in classrooms, the U.S. House of Representatives today approved bipartisan legislation to protect children from inappropriate uses of these practices in schools. The Keeping All Students Safe Act (H.R. 4247) passed by a vote of 262 to 153.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With child obesity and child hunger both on the rise, Congress has a critical opportunity to help children be healthy and succeed in school by improving access to and the quality of the U.S. child nutrition programs and the Women Infants and Children (WIC), witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. Providing children with access to healthy food during the critical years of early development, in child care, at school and during the summer can help fight the childhood obesity epidemic and bolster students’ achievement.

Improving Children’s Health: Strengthening Federal Child Nutrition Programs

Full Committee Hearing 2:30 PM, March 2, 2010 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Tuesday, March 2, the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on strengthening the federal nutrition and school meal programs through the upcoming the child nutrition reauthorization.  Improving federal child nutrition programs is one of the four pillars of First Lady Michelle Obama’s recently announced “Let’s Move” campaign to combat childhood obesity.
(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, Education and Labor Committee Member and Chair of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.)

mccarthy2-square.jpgToday’s hearing is an important first step toward strengthening the federal nutrition and school meal programs in the upcoming child nutrition reauthorization.  Improving child nutrition is also part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s recent efforts in tackling the epidemic of childhood obesity and in President Obama’s recently-established Task Force on Childhood Obesity.   

As a longtime nurse and the Chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, I believe it is important that we examine practices which can help increase access to child nutrition programs and to more healthy foods for our children in schools.  Given the current harsh financial realities for many families in my district and throughout the nation, schools have an increasingly important role to play since they provide students with more than 50% of their food and nutrient intake. 
On Tuesday, March 2, the Committee will hold a hearing on strengthening the federal nutrition and school meal programs through the upcoming the child nutrition reauthorization.  Improving federal child nutrition programs is one of the four pillars of First Lady Michelle Obama’s recently announced “Let’s Move” campaign to combat childhood obesity.

On Wednesday, March 3, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will appear before the Committee to discuss how strong and innovative education reforms can help rebuild the U.S. economy and restore our competitiveness. Secretary Duncan will discuss President Obama’s education agenda, including his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2011, which called for Congress to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act originated in the Education and Labor Committee and was approved by the House in September.

Also on March 3, the Keeping All Students Safe Act is expected to be voted on by the House.


Committee to Examine Strengthening Child Nutrition Programs

On Tuesday, March 2, the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on strengthening the federal nutrition and school meal programs through the upcoming the child nutrition reauthorization.  Improving federal child nutrition programs is one of the four pillars of First Lady Michelle Obama’s recently announced “Let’s Move” campaign to combat childhood obesity.

WHAT:        
Hearing on “Improving Children’s Health: Strengthening Federal Nutrition Programs”

WHO:           
Witnesses TBA
                        
WHEN:         
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
2:30 p.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Note: This hearing will be webcast live from the Education and Labor Committee website. 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Education released information collected from states over the past six months on the state laws, regulations, policies and guidelines in place on preventing abusive restraint and seclusion in schools.

The information released via the Department of Education shows inconsistent state and local policies, which could lead to further abuses.  

“The report shows us that while some states have made progress, overall state policies still vary wildly. A divergent patchwork of state and local rules is not adequate when it comes to protecting our kids from abusive uses of restraint and seclusion. It is clear we need to pass H.R. 4247 to ensure every child, in every state, is safe and protected while at school.”

Miller is the co-author of the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools, bipartisan legislation that passed the Education and Labor Committee last month. The bill would, for the first time, establish minimum federal safety standards to protect children and staff in schools. Learn more about the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools bill.
(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Jared Polis, a member of the Committee on Education and Labor.)

polis-square.jpgAs the House Education and Labor Committee launches its bipartisan efforts to reform the nation’s federal education laws, we must examine ways to replicate and expand successful innovation.  Our goal must be closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of economic or ethnic background, receives a quality education and the opportunity to succeed.  Several high-quality public charter schools have demonstrated outstanding results at providing a world-class education to all students.  As a former chairman of the Colorado State Board of Education and superintendent of charter schools serving disadvantaged youth, I know firsthand the life-changing and transformative effect that such schools can have on students, their families and communities.

At the Committee’s June hearing on charter schools, members heard about the success of top-performing charter schools emphasizing a rigorous curriculum, high standards and expectations, strong performance-based accountability, and autonomy at turning around student achievement very quickly and effectively.  Serving as laboratories of educational innovation, charter schools have pioneered some of the most promising and influential public school reform strategies, such as extended learning time, principal autonomy, data-driven research and instruction, and a laser focus on results.

The All Students Achieving Through Reform (All-STAR) Act

H.R. 4330, the All Students Achieving through Reform (All-STAR) Act, introduced by Education and Labor Committee Member Rep. Jared Polis, would help close our nation’s achievement gap in education by expanding and replicating successful, high-quality public charter schools serving at-risk students.

This Week: Committee Hearings and Continued Work on Health Insurance Reform

This week the Committee has two hearings scheduled:

Chairman Miller and House leaders will also continue to work on health insurance reform, attending the bipartisan White House summit on Thursday, February 25.
To kick off its bipartisan efforts to reform the nation’s federal education laws, on Wednesday, February 24, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine proposals that would expand access to quality charter schools. The hearing will discuss the “All Students Achieving through Reform Act,” H.R. 4330, legislation that would create a new competitive grant program to expand and replicate successful charter schools to serve additional students, with a priority for low-income students, students in schools with low graduation rates and students in schools in need of improvement.

Earlier today, the committee announced plans for a bipartisan, transparent effort to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as No Child Left Behind.

WHAT:         
Hearing on “the All Students Achieving through Reform Act” (the All-STAR Act)

WHO:            
Eileen Ahearn, Director, National Association of State Directors of Special Education
Eva Moskowitz, Ph.D, CEO and Founder, Harlem Success Academy
Thomas Hehir, Ed.D, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Robin Lake, Associate Director, Center for Reinventing Public Education, University of Washington
Greg Richmond, President, National Association of Charter School Authorizers
Caprice Young, Ed.D, President, CEO KC Distance Learning, Knowledge Universe
                       
WHEN:         
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
10:00 a.m. EST
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:       
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Note: This hearing will be webcast live.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after First Lady Michelle Obama announced her “Let’s Move” initiative to end childhood obesity. Miller will help lead the effort in Congress to reauthorize the federal school meal and child nutrition programs – one of four pillars of the First Lady’s initiative. 
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Last night, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new efforts to improve the safety and quality of all foods purchased and served in the federal school meal programs, including changes recently called for by U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA). These initiatives come after recent investigations by USA Today revealed serious flaws in federal efforts to protect foods served in schools, including revelations that some fast-food chains, like McDonald’s, are stronger in checking the safety of their foods than the federal government. Miller, a leading advocate for school food safety in Congress and the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today applauded these initiatives: 

Key Investments in the President’s 2011 Education Budget

President Obama’s 2011 Education Budget continues an impressive funding commitment in education. His budget sends the right message about balancing incentives with resources – spurring major school improvements and providing the resources needed to make them.

The President’s proposed budget includes  a request for $49.7 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Education, a $3.5 billion increase from last year’s request. It streamlines programs through consolidation and program elimination with an eye on program effectiveness. Specifically, the President’s budget will:


WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Education and Labor Committee today passed bipartisan legislation to make classrooms safer for students and school staff by preventing the misuse of restraint and seclusion.  The Committee passed the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) by a vote of 34 to 10.

Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act

Full Committee Markup 11:00 AM, February 4, 2010 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC

On Thursday, February 4th, the House Education and Labor Committee considered legislation that will protect schoolchildren from harmful uses of restraint and seclusion in their classrooms.

A recent investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. Unlike in hospitals and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal health funding, there are currently no federal laws addressing restraint and seclusion in schools.

The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) is the first national effort to address this troubling problem and ensure the safety of everyone involved – both students and school staff. It would establish minimum safety standards in schools and increase transparency, oversight and enforcement to prevent future abuse, among other things. Learn more about the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act.

News of the Day: The Story Behind The Bill

| Comments (1)
Today, the Committee will consider legislation to that will protect schoolchildren from harmful uses of restraint and seclusion in their classrooms.The Hill newspaper explored the story behind the bill:

Curtis Decker, the executive director of the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), remembers when he first heard about children being secluded and restrained in schools. The parents of an American Indian girl with Down syndrome found out their daughter was being tied to her chair at school when they went to pick her up one day.

That was six or seven years ago, Decker recalled, and he and his staff discussed it in a meeting as an isolated case.

Then they started hearing other, similar stories. School employees sat on a girl in Wisconsin as a punishment for blowing bubbles in her milk. A child in Michigan had an epileptic seizure on the first day of school and died after school officials sat on him. A school in Tennessee had metal-door-enclosed seclusion rooms that looked like “prison cells from World War II,” NDRN senior staff attorney Jane Hudson said.

Hudson wrote a report on seclusion and restraint in schools, and a year ago, the organization took its findings to House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.).

“The types of abuse these kids are suffering are so disturbing, you’d think these were stories about torture tactics used at prison camps,” Miller said in an e-mail.
In addition to these horrific stories, the committee heard from other parents whose children had been victims of abuse by incorrect application of these techniques.


Toni Price, mother of a victim who died, testifies at a hearing examining the abusive and deadly use of seclusion and restraint on May 19, 2009.


Ann Gaydos, mother of a victim, testifies at a hearing examining the abusive and deadly use of seclusion and restraint on May 19, 2009.


Nicole Danhof-Holden addresses a press conference about the introduction of H.R. 4247 - Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act

In response to these stories and others, Rep. Joe Courtney called on Congress to make schools safe havens for children. This echos the calls of Chairman Miller to make schools safe for students and free from abuse.

The markup of H.R. 4247 - Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act starts at 11:00am ET today and will be live webcast. Please join us.

Rep. Joe Courtney: Congress Must Make Schools Safe Havens for Children

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Joe Courtney, Education and Labor Committee Member.)

courtney photo - square.jpgIn 1998, the Hartford Courant earned a Pulitzer Prize for a series of stories on the use of restraint and seclusion tactics on students with disabilities in treatment facilities.  The tales of children who were injured, or in some cases, died, shocked parents and educators across the country.  As a parent of two, I was among those who were horrified.  While previous Congresses passed legislation to reduce this abuse in treatment facilities, no federal laws were ever created to protect children from dangerous physical restraint in schools.

In 2009, the House Committee on Education and Labor, of which I am a member, held hearings on the use of seclusion and restraint.  The testimony we heard from various experts was disturbing and signaled that Congress must act expeditiously to end once and for all seclusion and restraint. The most powerful testimony came from parents whose children were killed or severely injured as a result of dangerous restraint techniques.  

In response to those stories, and the countless cases in which children have been injured or died, Education and Labor Chairman George Miller introduced the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act.  I am a proud cosponsor of this bipartisan bill, which I believe will accomplish a number of important goals.  

The proposal wisely bans the use of chemical or mechanical restraint and will prohibit the use of physical restraint or seclusion as a disciplinary measure.  As experts throughout the medical and educational field have testified, the use of these harsh methods of controlling a child must never be utilized unless an imminent danger to a child or staff exists.  Furthermore, this legislation ensures accountability and transparency, requiring that parents and school officials be notified immediately when an incident occurs.  The bill requires data collection when restraint techniques are used to ensure that incidents are recorded and later used to establish best practices.  We must continue to promote training for staff, and this valuable information will increase awareness to avoid future tragedies.

Tomorrow, the Committee will consider the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act.  I look forward to working with Chairman Miller and my colleagues on the Committee to pass this legislation and to ensure that our schools are safe havens for children and staff.

MYTH VS. FACT: Keeping All Students Safe Act

The Keeping All Students Safe Act (formerly the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act) will help make all classrooms safer for students, teachers, staff and the entire school community. To help clear up any confusion or misinformation about this legislation, here is a rundown of how the rumors stack up to reality.

MYTH:  Restraint and seclusion are effective therapeutic interventions that can help students improve behavior.

FACT: 
No evidence-based research has demonstrated restraint or seclusion to be therapeutically effective in modifying behavior. To the contrary -- research has shown that restraint and seclusion can be physically and psychologically harmful and can even result in more emotional and behavioral disruptions.

MYTH: This legislation doesn’t outright ban seclusion and restraint and therefore won’t be effective.

FACT:  It would be naïve to ban all restraint and seclusion – there are rare and extreme emergencies when it may be necessary to physically intervene, but only when administered by properly trained staff and only in situations when a student is posing imminent danger of physical injury to himself or to others.

This bill is consistent with the Children’s Health Act of 2000 and federal protections already in place in other settings. The bill allows physical restraint and seclusion in cases where danger is imminent, when there is no other choice, and only when administered by trained staff. Rather than taking an unrealistic approach, this bill makes a balanced effort to make classrooms safer for kids without taking away necessary emergency interventions from trained staff.

TODAY: Committee to Consider Legislation to Protect Children From Abuse in Schools

On Thursday, February 4th, the House Education and Labor Committee will consider legislation that will protect schoolchildren from harmful uses of restraint and seclusion in their classrooms.

A recent investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. Unlike in hospitals and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal health funding, there are currently no federal laws addressing restraint and seclusion in schools.

The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act (H.R. 4247) is the first national effort to address this troubling problem and ensure the safety of everyone involved – both students and school staff. It would establish minimum safety standards in schools and increase transparency, oversight and enforcement to prevent future abuse, among other things.

WHAT:         
Full Committee Mark-Up of H.R. 4247 “The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act”

WHEN:         
Thursday, February 4, 2009
11:00 a.m. ET

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Chairman Miller talks with Michelle Obama about childhood obesity

GM-FLOTUS.jpgYesterday, Chairman Miller attended a round table meeting led by Michelle Obama about how to end childhood obesity.The San Francisco Chronicle reports that he said the first lady will bring "great credibility and great ideas" to a campaign that will include a major rewrite this year of the multibillion-dollar federal nutrition program, including school lunches and breakfasts.

"We have an opportunity to do something dramatic," Miller said.

The first lady said the effort will focus on four areas: improving health at schools, increasing children's physical activity, improving access to healthy food and making it more affordable to poor children - a challenge she described as difficult - and teaching people to make better choices about what they eat.

After the meeting, Chairman Miller issued this statement about ending childhood obesity.

“Nothing is more important than our children’s health, but for too many families, healthy meals fall to the wayside as they struggle to make ends meet.  Our nation’s school meal and child nutrition programs provide millions of children with nutritious meals and help them develop healthy life habits – and will be critically important in the fight against childhood obesity. As we work to rewrite our child nutrition laws this year, we must focus on eliminating any barriers to these programs, so that all eligible children have access to healthier foods and nutrition education whether in school, child care, or at home.

“Improving child nutrition and tackling childhood obesity will be a challenge, but no one is better equipped to take it on than our First Lady. She has already done wonders to raise public awareness of the benefits of gardening and healthy eating and I applaud her for choosing this as her first key policy initiative. I look forward to working with the First Lady on this initiative and am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress on a bipartisan, comprehensive reauthorization of our child nutrition laws.”

Below Chairman Miller talks about his apple "theft" from the White House meeting with the First Lady and how excited he is to work with her to end childhood obesity.



The Education and Labor Committee has jurisdiction over federal school meal and afterschool meal programs, the Special Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), and community-based programs such as the summer meals program and the child and adult care food program.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee today met with First Lady Michelle Obama, Cabinet members and congressional leaders to discuss ending childhood obesity. Miller will help lead efforts in the House to rewrite the nation’s child nutrition laws this year. He issued the following statement:

Supporters of the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act

Supporters of H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act (formerly the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act)

Reps. George Miller, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Carolyn McCarthy, Todd Platts
Congressional Black Caucus Education Leadership

Access Living
ADAPT Montana
Advocates for Children of New York (NY, NY)
Alliance to Prevent Restraint, Aversive Interventions and Seclusion
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Association on Health and Disability
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
American Counseling Association
American Federation of Teachers
American Group Psychotherapy Association
American Humane
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Autism National Committee
Autism Society
Autism Speaks
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
Burton Blatt Institute
California Mental Health Planning Council
Center for Self-Determination
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Coalition for Community Integration
Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth
Community Parent Resource Center of New Mexico (Bernalillo, NM)
Congress of the Statewide Independent Living Councils
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
Council for Exceptional Children
Council for Learning Disabilities
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
Crisis Prevention Institute
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
Division for Learning Disabilities
Easter Seals
Epilepsy Foundation
Families Against Restraint and Seclusion
Families Together, Inc.
Family Alliance to Stop Abuse and Neglect
Family to Family Health Information Center (New Jersey)
Family Voices
Family Voices (New Jersey Chapters)
Family Voices of Tennessee
Gold Coast Down Syndrome Organization
Higher Education Consortium for Special Education
JKM Training
Justice for All Action Network
Learning Disabilities Association of America
Little People of America
Maine Parent Federation
Mental Health America
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors
National Association of Private Special Education Centers
National Association of School Psychologists
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Association of State Directors of Special Education
National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
National Association of the Deaf
National Autism Association
National Center for Environmental Health Strategies
National Center for Learning Disabilities
National Coalition of Mental Health Consumers/Survivor Organizations
National Council on Independent Living
National Disability Rights Network
National Down Syndrome Congress
National Down Syndrome Society
National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
National Jewish Council for Disabilities
National Parent Teacher Association
National Rehabilitation Association
National Respite Coalition
National School Boards Association
National Spinal Cord Injury Association
National Youth Leadership Network
New Jersey’s Parent Training and Information Center
New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS)
Non-Abusive Psychological and Physical Intervention
Northwest Arkansas Community Parent Resource Center (Springdale, AR)
Not Dead Yet
PACER Center
Parent to Parent of Georgia (Atlanta, GA)
Pennsylvania TASH
Pyramid Community Parent Resource Center (New Orleans, LA)
Resources for Children with Special Needs, Inc.
Respect ABILITY Law Center
School Social Work Association of America
South Dakota Parent Connection (Sioux Falls, SD)
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network of New Jersey (Newark, NJ)
Statewide Parent to Parent (NJ)
TASH
Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children
The Advocacy Institute
The Arc of the United States
The Mandt System, Inc.
Therapeutic Communities of America
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
Tourette Syndrome Association
United Cerebral Palsy
United Spinal Association
U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Witness Justice
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

Building upon that truth, New Yorkers have begun to serve one another. The New York Times reports:

Since April, they have spruced up a dozen city blocks, helped give 164,000 flu vaccinations and installed 178,000 compact fluorescent bulbs in public housing. They are volunteers, part of an ambitious New York effort to tap unpaid workers as a permanent, strategic element in solving city problems. Their work, city officials say, has resulted in 18,000 new volunteers serving 67,000 New Yorkers.
Responding to this new generation of American volunteers, Chairman George Miller worked closely with Senator Edward Kennedy to craft the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
GM-TedKennedy.jpg
Mr. Miller described that effort and the resulting bill in his guest commentary on Saturday in the Contra Costa Times:

Last April, our legislation was enacted with bipartisan support as the aptly named Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

Our law answers Obama's call to make Americans part of the solution to the many challenges we face by increasing the number of participants in organizations like AmeriCorps, Teacher for America and others from 75,000 to 250,000. It increases the education award these volunteers can receive to pay for college or pay down their student debt. And it encourages social entrepreneurs to create innovative opportunities to help communities.
Chairman Miller continues:

These men and women, along with millions of others, are doing just what our law hopes to build on: harnessing their talent and skills to rebuild our economy, prepare workers for jobs, and green our communities.

On the day before his historic inauguration last year, Obama encouraged Americans to observe MLK Day as a national day of service. Already this year, hundreds of thousands of Americans have signed up to volunteer.

If you haven't already, join them. Become part of the movement to harvest change, person by person, from the ground up. There's no better way to follow the lead of Dr. King and Sen. Kennedy and transform America.
The Committee would love to hear what you did on MLK day to honor the memory of Dr. King and Sen. Kennedy. Let us know in the comments.
The USA Today highlights the lack of action by states after the Committee's hearing on abusive seclusion and restraint practices and the Secretary of Education's call for action by state school chiefs to submit their plans for using seclusion, restraint and other practices for physical intervention in their schools.

The USA Today says:

Many states still have no rules in place to address how and when school staff can restrain and seclude children, says Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. So he and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., also on the committee, are pushing legislation to set federal rules.

"Without a federal standard to set the bar, it's the Wild West," Miller says. "We believe the right approach is a balanced one that provides federal guidance to states but still allows states the flexibility to tailor their regulations to their specific needs."

....

Since release of the [GAO] findings:
  • Nevada and Tennessee passed new laws governing the practices, but while Tennessee's law bans prone restraint, Nevada's doesn't.
  • Maine, Michigan, Vermont and Wisconsin all introduced legislation; it was defeated in Maine but is still being considered in the other three states.
  • Maryland issued regulations outlining how the practices may be used.
We encourage you to read the entire USA Today article and learn more about H.R. 4247, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act.

UPDATED: Chairman Miller answers more questions about seclusion and restraint practices from the USA Today.

Keeping All Students Safe Act

Myth vs. Facts
Supporters of H.R. 4247
Definitions of terms used in H.R. 4247


Every child should be safe and protected while in school. But a recent investigation by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found hundreds of allegations that children have been abused, and some even died, as a result of misuses of restraint and seclusion in public and private schools, often at the hands of untrained staff. Many of these interventions were used disproportionately on some of our most vulnerable students -- children with disabilities. Unlike in hospitals and other facilities that receive federal funding, there are no federal laws that address how and when restraint or seclusion can be used in schools. State regulations and oversight vary greatly and have often failed to protect children. It is also impossible to determine the full extent to which these interventions are used because there is currently no consistent reporting of data.  

H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act (formerly the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act) is the first national effort to address this problem and ensure the safety of everyone involved – both students and school staff. (Bill text »)
Specifically the legislation would:

Definitions of Terms Used in the Keeping All Students Safe Act

H.R. 4247, the Keeping All Students Safe Act (formerly the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in the Schools Act) will establish minimum safety standards in schools, similar to federal protections already in place in hospitals and other community-based facilities. The bill uses definitions from existing law and creates new definitions relevant to schools: 
Today at 11:00 am Eastern, U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) will hold a press conference to introduce new legislation to protect all children in schools from misuse of restraint and seclusion. Miller is the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and a member of Democratic leadership, McMorris Rodgers is a member of the Committee and the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference.

This legislation is the first national effort to prevent and reduce harmful restraint and seclusion in schools. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office investigation found hundreds of allegations that schoolchildren have been abused, and some even died, as a result of the inappropriate use of restraint and seclusion in classrooms; a disproportionate number of them were children with disabilities. Yet unlike in hospitals, and other medical and community-based facilities that receive federal funding, there are currently no federal policies that prevent the misuse of restraint and seclusion in schools. State regulation and oversight varies greatly; many states provide no guidance or assistance regarding these behavioral interventions.

WHO:            
U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee and Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference
Curt Decker, Executive Director, National Disability Rights Network
Michael A. Resnick, Associate Executive Director, National School Boards Association
Nicole and Alan Holden whose 3-year-old son was repeatedly inappropriately restrained in his public pre-school classroom, Muskegon, MI
Other families of children who have been the victims of harmful restraint and seclusion in classrooms

WHAT:         
Press Conference to Introduce Legislation to Prevent Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools

WHEN:         
Wednesday, December 9, 2009, 11:00AM EST

To watch an archived webcast of the press conference, click here (67.4 MB file)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its report on the food security. The report, Household Food Security in the U.S, showed that in 2008, 17 million households in the United States were at times unable to provide food for their families. The number of children who at times went without food in 2008 rose from approximately 700,000 to 1.1 million.

News of the Day: A serving of food safety

The Las Vegas Sun ran an editorial on Tuesday entitled,"A serving of food safety: Congress should make sure children are protected from food-borne illnesses" that highlighted Chairman George Miller's letter to the GAO asking for an investigation into contaminated beef in school meals.

The Sun said:

A recent report to Congress found that the Agriculture Department’s Food and Nutrition Service, which provides up to 20 percent of the food served in the nation’s schools, doesn’t always provide the schools with timely recall notices. That increases the risk of contaminated food making its way onto children’s plates.
In response to that finding and other news stories, Chairman Miller wrote, “Recent media reports have drawn our attention yet again to significant recalls of contaminated ground beef that was available in the commercial marketplace. Although there are no reports of schools being implicated in any of the food safety illnesses related to this latest wave of recalls, I am concerned that the systems in place do not adequately minimize schools’ risk for procuring and providing contaminated products purchased through commercial channels for use in the school meal programs.”

The Sun said, "Miller is correct to call for a full investigation, and he should press the issue," and that is exactly what he plans to do.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In light of several recent deadly outbreaks of E. coli that led to a recall of ground beef from major supermarkets, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the risk of contaminated beef from the commercial market entering the school meal programs.  This would be part of an investigation GAO launched at Miller’s request last year into the safety of meat served in school cafeterias.

Preventing Child Abuse and Improving Responses to Families in Crisis

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing 10:00 AM, November 5, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Thursday, November 5,  U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the House Subcommittees on Healthy Families and Communities, held a hearing to examine best practices to prevent child abuse and neglect, as well as how to strengthen and improve services for families in crisis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More school districts are implementing ways to directly enroll more eligible students for free and reduced priced school meals, according to a new report out today.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chair of the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities today issued the following statement after the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IOM) released its recommendations to revise the standards and requirements for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. The IOM recommends increasing the variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, setting a minimum and maximum level of calories, eliminating foods with trans fats and offering only fat-free and low-fat milk.

Examining Innovative Practices to Improve Child Nutrition

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing 10:00 AM, October 8, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Thursday, October 8, the House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities held a hearing to examine innovative strategies to ensure children have access to healthy, nutritious and safe school meals.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation that will ensure more children have year-round access to healthy and nutritious meals at school, in child care settings, and during the summer months, at no new cost to taxpayers, as part of the 2010 Agriculture Appropriations Bill Conference Agreement. The legislation, which  passed with a bipartisan vote of 263-162, temporarily extends expiring provisions of the law governing child nutrition provisions and makes investments to help meet critical child nutrition needs for families across the country.

Temporary Extensions of the Child Nutrition Programs

Today, the House is expected to vote on the Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report which includes temporary extensions of expiring provisions of the laws governing the child nutrition programs resulting in a cost savings of $150 million. These savings will be reinvested to meet critical child nutrition needs across the country to ensure more children have year-round access to healthy and nutritious meals at school, in child care settings, and during the summer months.

Ensuring More Children Have Access to Healthy and Nutritious Meals

ENSURING IMPROVED ACCESS AND QUALITY OF MEALS FOR ALL CHILDREN

Children should not have to go hungry – and they should have access to nutritious foods that will help them thrive physically and academically. In this difficult economic climate, the federal child nutrition programs have an increasingly important role to play in providing children with healthy meals while at school, childcare, or during the summer months. Over 32 million children each year are served by these programs. For many children, these meals may be the only healthy foods they receive during the day.

Research shows that children who are hungry have a harder time paying attention and learning in the classroom. Low-income children are also at greater risk of going hungry or becoming overweight, during the summer months. Providing children with access to healthier, nutritious foods at school, child care, summer programs, or other educational settings is vital to our efforts to help all children learn, succeed and grow.

To ensure that children can continue to benefit from these programs and services, Congress will temporarily extend expiring provisions of the Child Nutrition Act until a more comprehensive reauthorization of the law occurs next year. This one-year temporary extension will generate a savings of $150 million, which will be reinvested to meet critical child nutrition needs across the country. These new investments will address President Obama’s and Congress’ priorities to end hunger and improve child nutrition, increase access to quality school meals, and build program capacity.

Hearing on access to healthy, nutritious and safe school meals

On Thursday, October 9, 2009, the House Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities held a hearing to examine innovative strategies to ensure children have access to healthy, nutritious and safe school meals.

Visit the hearing page for the full list of witnesses.

Ensuring Economic Opportunities for Young Americans

Full Committee Hearing 10:00 AM, October 1, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Thursday, October 1, the House Education and Labor held a hearing to examine the impact on declining rate of youth employment and strategies to ensure that there are economic opportunities available for young Americans.

While the recession has disproportionately impacted young adults, the employment rate among 16 to 24 year-olds has steadily declined by nearly 20 percent over the past decade to its lowest level since World War II. The consequences of reduced work opportunities among young Americans results in fewer long-term employment prospects, less earnings and a decrease in productivity.

News of the Day: GAO audit: Schools slow to get alerts about tainted food

Today's front page story in the USA Today about a recent GAO audit is recommended reading. The audit is in response to an investigation request by U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY).

The USA Today says:

Federal agencies that supply food for 31 million schoolchildren fail to ensure that tainted products are pulled quickly from cafeterias, a federal audit obtained by USA TODAY finds.

The delays raise the risk of children being sickened by contaminated food, according to the audit by Congress' Government Accountability Office.

In recent recalls, including one this year in which salmonella-infected peanut butter sickened almost 700 people, the government failed to disseminate "timely and complete notification about suspect food products provided to schools through the federal commodities program," the audit says.

Such alerts sometimes took more than a week to reach schools, "during which time (schools) unknowingly served affected products."
Chairman Miller said, “Ensuring that all children have access to healthy and nutritious meals during the school day is vital to our efforts to help all children learn and succeed. Every possible effort must be made to make sure that the foods served to our schoolchildren are safe to eat. As we work toward reauthorizing the school meal programs, it is clear that further actions must be taken to strengthen the communications, planning and procedures needed to prevent recalled or contaminated foods from entering our cafeterias.”

We recommend you read the entire USA Today article, Democratic lawmakers' statements, and the GAO report.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – To ensure that foods served to children in the nation’s schools are safe, the federal agencies that oversee school meals and food safety must work more collaboratively and establish better communications procedures, according to a government report released today by Congressional Democrats.

News of the Day: A Living Memorial

The New York Times editorial today - A Living Memorial - highlights that tomorrow is officially a National Day of Service and Remembrance as per the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

The simple goal, explains David Paine, a co-founder of MyGoodDeed, an important mover behind this initiative, is to pay tribute in a forward-looking way to those lost and injured in the terrorist attacks and to the ongoing sacrifices of members of the armed forces. By joining with those already planning to take all or part of the day to aid their chosen cause or charity, Americans can show their patriotism and help recapture the spirit of community that saw so many people volunteer to help the families who lost loved ones in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 horror.
In the comments, share what you will be doing tomorrow in honor of the 9/11 victims.

News of the Day: Volunteering in America

Chairman George Miller issued the following statement today in response to a new report that shows that number of Americans volunteering is rising across the country – even though volunteering has typically decreased in previous economic downturns. According to the report, Volunteering in America, released by the Corporation for National and Community Service, one million more Americans volunteered in 2008 than in 2007. Overall almost 62 million Americans – or more than a quarter of the adult population – volunteered in 2008.

“This report should make each and every one of us optimistic about the future of volunteerism. It reminds us that service is a deeply held American value – and that Americans’ desire to help their neighbors and communities only grows stronger in difficult times. Unlike in previous economic downturns, people are turning out in record numbers to volunteer and become a part of the solution to the many challenges we face. Earlier this year, President Obama and Congress took an historic step to unleash this spirit and commitment to service by enacting the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. This law is already helping to launch a new era of service that will help improve our schools, transition to a green, clean-energy economy, create healthier of communities, and ensure that our nation can emerge from this economic downturn stronger and more vibrant.”

Learn more about how the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act taps into Americans’ growing interest to serve in their communities.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today in response to a new report that shows that number of Americans volunteering is rising across the country – even though volunteering has typically decreased in previous economic downturns. According to the report, Volunteering in America, released by the Corporation for National and Community Service, one million more Americans volunteered in 2008 than in 2007. Overall almost 62 million Americans – or more than a quarter of the adult population –volunteered in 2008.

“This report should make each and every one of us optimistic about the future of volunteerism. It reminds us that service is a deeply held American value – and that Americans’ desire to help their neighbors and communities only grows stronger in difficult times. Unlike in previous economic downturns, people are turning out in record numbers to volunteer and become a part of the solution to the many challenges we face. Earlier this year, President Obama and Congress took an historic step to unleash this spirit and commitment to service by enacting the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. This law is already helping to launch a new era of service that will help improve our schools, transition to a green, clean-energy economy, create healthier of communities, and ensure that our nation can emerge from this economic downturn stronger and more vibrant.”
 
Representative McCarthy was on CNN this morning talking about yesterday's hearing regarding Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying. After you are done watching the interview, check out the photos, videos and some statements from Representatives and witnesses.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More needs to be done to prevent violence and harassment in schools, witnesses told Congress at a joint hearing held by the House Healthy Families and Communities and Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittees. Witnesses today discussed various methods to improve school safety, including better data and reporting, student run programs, and training for faculty and staff.

Strengthening School Safety through Prevention of Bullying

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee and Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Hearing 10:00 AM, July 8, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, July 8, the House Subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education and Healthy Families and Communities will hold a joint hearing to examine strategies for improving school safety, including ways to prevent violence, bullying and harassment. Recent studies show students are more likely to succeed academically and graduate when learning environments are free from harassment and violence.

News of the Day: Federal Ban Sought On Student Restraint

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The Wall Street Journal ran an article this morning to draw attention to the abusive use of seclusion and restraint within schools. These abuses were brought to national attention during a hearing by the Education and Labor Committee.

In Washington, the effort to limit the use of such techniques is being championed by Rep. George Miller, chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor. In January, the California Democrat called for the GAO review, and last month his committee held hearings. What was discovered, he said in an interview, is a system "in which children are unnecessarily dying and being harmed."

In testimony before Congress in May, Education Secretary Arne Duncan called such findings "disturbing" and said he is instructing chief school officers in all 50 states to detail their plans for keeping students safe.

...

The scope of any possible federal law is still uncertain. Mr. Miller and others involved in the discussions say they would like it to be crafted so that states are primarily responsible for developing and enforcing policies.

We encourage you to watch the video testimony and to read the entire Wall Street Journal article.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller issued the following statement today after President Obama launched the United We Serve campaign, a new initiative to engage Americans in service and volunteer opportunities to help rebuild the country. Recent news articles report that American’s interest in service is surging, partly as more unemployed Americans seek volunteer opportunities while they look for a new job.




To learn more about seclusion and restraint, click here.
On the front page of the USA today, Greg Toppo writes an excellent article about how restraint can dispirit and hurt special-ed students. In it, Mr. Toppo writes:

His case is one of 10 to be highlighted today during a hearing on Capitol Hill over the use of restraint and seclusion in the USA's public and private schools — techniques often used to control children with disabilities.

A new report from the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm, also out today, finds "widespread" allegations of abuse involving the practices in schools — even when students aren't physically aggressive or dangerous to themselves or others.

Investigators say they uncovered hundreds of allegations of abuse involving restraint or seclusion at public and private schools nationwide between 1990 and 2009.
Today the committee will have a hearing examining the abusive and deadly use of seclusion and restraint in schools at 10 am ET.

Additional stories about this subject can be found at NPR, CBS, and CNN. All are worth your time.
 
On Tuesday, May 19, the House Committee on Education and Labor will hold a hearing to examine abusive and deadly uses of seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools. Seclusion and restraint are physical interventions used by teachers and other school staff to prevent students from hurting themselves or others.

On Wednesday, May 20, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan will testify before the House Education and Labor Committee about President Obama’s agenda for transforming American education. This will mark Secretary’s first appearance on Capitol Hill to outline the President’s education goals.

On Thursday, May 21, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine proposals that will make historic increases in college aid by enacting reforms that will make the nation’s federal student loan programs more reliable, effective and efficient for students, families and taxpayers.

One of the proposals the committee will examine is President Obama’s FY 2010 budget proposal, which would increase the Pell Grant scholarship and other forms of student aid by almost $100 billion over ten years – and at no cost to taxpayers. The President’s plan would be paid for by ending the subsidies the federal government currently pays to lenders in the federally-guaranteed student loan programs and re-directing those savings back into additional aid for low- and middle-income students.
WASHINGTON, DC – Child nutrition programs have a role to play in fighting the nation’s child obesity crisis, witnesses told members of the House Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee today. While there is no single solution for combating this epidemic, which plagues 25 million children, these programs should take a comprehensive approach that promotes nutrition quality, education and physical activities.

“There is no silver bullet to solving childhood obesity,” said U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), chairwoman of the Health Families and Communities Subcommittee. “However, the School Breakfast and Lunch programs can make a great impact because they may provide 50 percent of a student’s food and nutrient intake on school days.”

Committee to Examine Abusive and Deadly Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools

On Tuesday, May 19, the House Committee on Education and Labor will hold a hearing to examine abusive and deadly uses of seclusion and restraint in U.S. schools. Seclusion and restraint are physical interventions used by teachers and other school staff to prevent students from hurting themselves or others.

WHAT:           
Full Committee Hearing on “Examining the Abusive and Deadly Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools”

WHO:            
Witnesses TBA
                                               
WHEN:            
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT
Please check the Committee schedule for potential updates »

WHERE:       
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
On May 14, the House passed the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act by a vote of 275-155. The bill would make critical investments to provide more students with modern, healthier, more environmentally-friendly classrooms.

Improving Child Nutrition Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing 10:00 AM, May 14, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
On Thursday, May 14, the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, chaired by U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), held a hearing to examine how improvements to child nutrition programs can help fight the nation’s childhood obesity crisis.

Child nutrition experts across the board agree that childhood obesity poses the greatest threats to the nation’s physical and financial health. Today, one-third of U.S. children and adolescents, about 25 million, are obese or overweight. Child nutrition programs provide children with access to low-cost, nutritious food to support healthy growth and development.

Estimates of State and School District Funding Provided by Green Schools Bill

(Updated on May 14, 2009 to reflect bill as passed by House.)

Below are estimates of the amount of funding that each state and school district would receive to modernize, upgrade and repair school facilities under the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, if it were to be enacted.  These are estimates only based on available and current data and may not reflect exact allocations that states or school districts receive when these funds are actually allocated. 

Preliminary estimates from the Congressional Research Service (as calculated on May 13, 2009):

Click here to download state-level data (PDF, 10KB) »
Click here to download school district-level data (PDF, 775KB) »

Subcommittee to Examine Reducing Childhood Obesity

On Thursday, May 14, the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, will hold a hearing to examine how improvements to child nutrition programs can help fight the nation’s childhood obesity crisis.

Child nutrition experts across the board agree that childhood obesity poses the greatest threats to the nation’s physical and financial health. Today, one-third of U.S. children and adolescents, about 25 million, are obese or overweight. Child nutrition programs provide children with access to low-cost, nutritious food to support healthy growth and development. 
The House is scheduled to vote this week on the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act.  The bill would make critical investments to provide more students with modern, healthier, more environmentally-friendly classrooms. It would also support hundreds of thousands of new construction jobs and invest more than half a billion dollars for school facility improvements in the Gulf Coast, where many schools still face considerable damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.


The Flu Virus: Resources for Workers, Families, Educators and Employers

Below is information for workers, families, schools and employers about how to protect our communities by reducing the spread of the H1N1 flu virus.

What is the H1N1 Flu?


General information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the H1N1 flu (commonly mis-referred to as "swine flu"), including what the H1N1 flu is, how it spreads and how to take care of people sick with it »

School Preparedness

Checklists and other tools to help schools, child care providers, colleges and universities to delay or reduce the spread of the flu virus »

Workplace Preparedness

Checklists and other guidance for businesses and employers to protect employees' health and safety while limiting negative impacts to the economy and society »

More information from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration »

Family Preparedness

Advice and strategies to delay or reduce the spread of the flu virus »

Your Rights in the Workplace

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requires public agencies, all public and private elementary and secondary schools, and companies with 50 or more employees to provide an eligible employee with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year for reasons, including caring for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition, and taking medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.

More about FMLA »

News of the Day: Americorp applications rise by 240% in Q1 in 2009

Enthusiasm for service in America is at an all time high. This New York Time's graphic shows the huge increase in applications to Americorp over this time last year.

AmericorpApps.jpg
Many of these applicants will be able to serve due to the recently passed Edward M Kennedy Serve America Act. The Act grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. These new service opportunities will include the expansion of existing service programs, like AmeriCorps, as well as four new service corps focused on education, health care, energy and veterans. All service programs established under the bill will be overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

According to the AmeriCorps' press release:

AmeriCorps is experiencing a significant surge of applications. Last month, AmeriCorps received 17,038 online applications, nearly triple the 6,770 received in March 2008. In the past five months, AmeriCorps received 48,520 online applications, up 234 percent over the 14,532 that came in during the same five month period a year ago. Many volunteer centers and nonprofit groups are also reporting a “compassion boom” of increased numbers of volunteers.
Learn more about the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

Rep. Dale Kildee: "Green" Schools Are Healthy and Conducive to Learning

(This is a guest blog post by Rep. Dale Kildee, Education and Labor Committee Member and Chair of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education.)

kildee.jpgToday is the 40th celebration of Earth Day – a day of action and of giving back to our planet.  Events are taking place in communities across the nation, in schools and on college campuses.   Through acts as simple as changing a light bulb or planting a tree, and as complex as committing themselves to “going green” in all aspects of their lives, people throughout our country are making a big difference.  Congress has also made a commitment to do its part by helping to make our schools part of the green solution.

School buildings should be safe, healthy and modern learning environments for children and teachers.  By helping school districts to make schools environmentally friendly, or “green,” we can create facilities that have tremendous health, educational, financial and environmental benefits. 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) today issued the following joint statement after President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in to law. McCarthy was the original House sponsor of the legislation. Miller is the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and chief House co-sponsor of the bill.
 

Watch Chairman Miller on ABCNews.com Today at Noon, Eastern Time

Chairman Miller will be discussing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act on ABC News' Top Line program today at noon, Eastern time.  Click here to watch the program live online.

News of the Day: New York City Mayor Encourages Volunteerism

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Yesterday, The New York Times' City Room blog reported on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement of a series of programs and partnerships to encourage volunteerism among city residents.

Today, President Obama is scheduled to sign the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act into law.  This week is also National Volunteer Week (April 19-25).

The idea is to capitalize on the local history of activism and volunteerism and channel New Yorkers’ goodwill into worthy causes that could make a palpable difference in these difficult economic times. One of the initiatives, for example, will create the NYC Civic Corps, which will shepherd volunteers into public agencies and nonprofit groups. Others will expand the city’s auxiliary police force and Block Watch programs, as well as offer legal service and financial counseling to families who are facing foreclosure or otherwise need help managing their debt.
Read the rest of The New York Times blog post here

The Associated Press and The Washington Post also reported on Mayor Bloomberg's service program.
Today, Chairman George Miller and Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Chair Carolyn McCarthy, the lead House authors of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, will join President Barack Obama as he signs the legislation into law. The legislation, his first major bipartisan initiative to get enacted, will launch a new era of American service that creates opportunities for citizens of all ages to play a part in our nation’s recovery. First Lady Michele Obama, Former President Bill Clinton, and Former First Lady Rosalyn Carter are also expected to attend today’s signing, which comes during National Volunteer Week (April 19-25).

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act grows the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000 – more than triple the current 75,000. These new service opportunities will include the expansion of existing service programs, like AmeriCorps, as well as four new service corps focused on education, health care, energy and veterans. All service programs established under the bill will be overseen by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

News of the Day: A Move to Expand Volunteer Ranks

The New York Times highlighted an important element of the recently passed Serve America Act in an article yesterday. The Act reserves 10% of the money for AmeriCorps to enroll adults over 55. This is in recognition of the volunteer spirit of older Americans. In 2005, nearly a third of all baby boomers volunteered with formal organizations -– the highest volunteer rate of any group of Americans according to the Corporation for National & Community Service.

Specifically,

the legislation establishes a separate program, a $1,000 educational stipend called a Silver Scholarship, for adults over 55 who serve 350 or more hours with a qualified organization, Mr. Gomperts said. That money can be transferred to a child, foster child or grandchild.

In addition, AmeriCorps volunteers age 55 and older who serve full time for a year would be able to transfer their education award, which would be increased to $5,350 from $4,725, to a child, foster child or grandchild.

The bill also creates Encore Fellowships matching those age 55 and older with public or private nonprofit organizations for one-year management or leadership positions. Just as internships help younger adults enter a new field, these modestly paid positions provide a bridge for professionals from the for-profit world to second careers in the nonprofit world.
As usual, we recommend you read the entire article.

For more information on the role service programs play in each state, click here.

Earlier this month, Chairman Miller hosted a press conference with U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), the sponsor of the legislation, House lawmakers and nearly a hundred local area volunteers whose organizations stand to benefit from the Serve America Act. To view footage from the event, click here.

At a hearing in February, the Education and Labor Committee heard from witnesses about the many benefits of service and volunteering, including education initiatives, green service initiatives, veterans work, and more. For more information on that hearing, click here.
CNN has an article about the efforts by Americorps' volunteers to rebuild parts of Cedar Rapids after the floods in June 2008.

In many ways, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and dozens of other communities still haven't recovered from the record-setting June 2008 floods that ripped apart homes and lives across eastern Iowa.

But with the help of organizations and programs supported by the AmeriCorps volunteer service program, they are seeing significant improvements.
We encourage you to read the entire article and then read about the recently passed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that President Obama will sign upon his return from Europe. What is happening in Cedar Rapids and other communities around the country is exactly why demand to expand this program led to broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With Americans facing unprecedented challenges in their communities, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed legislation that will launch a new era of national service and volunteerism to help the nation emerge stronger from the economic crisis. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act was approved by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 275 to 149.

Upcoming: Final House Vote on National Service Bill

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On March 31, the House is expected to vote on final passage of H.R. 1388, a national service bill now known as the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.  The bill was previously passed in the House as the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act.  The House will be voting on amendments passed by the Senate on March 26.

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Calling Americans to Serve at a Critical Time

President Obama has called on Congress to create new service and volunteer opportunities for Americans that will help to build a stronger country. This legislation answers his call. It will launch a new era of service that will give Americans of all ages the opportunity to help our nation recover and make progress on education, health care, energy and other key goals by volunteering, whether it is helping students achieve in school, weatherizing homes and greening communities, rebuilding cities in times of disaster, feeding the hungry, helping seniors live independently, and much more.

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (H.R. 1388), which received final passage by the House on March 31 by a vote of 275-149 and was signed into law in April 2009, includes new changes (highlighted in red below) from the previous version of the bill, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act. The bill authorizes nearly $6 billion over five years – FY 2010 through FY 2014.

Expanding Service Opportunities for College Students »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Middle and High School Students
»
Expanding Service Opportunities for Seniors »
Expanding Green Service for Americans »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Veterans »
Strengthening Volunteer Disaster Relief Efforts »
Find Out About National Service in Your State »

News of the Day: KTVU news report

KTVU ran a news report on March 28, 2009 highlighting the GIVE Act (HR 1388) and Chairman Miller's efforts to increase volunteerism and service in California and nationwide.



News of the Day: Artists get stimulus help

San Francisco's KGO station ran an excellent story about how artists are benefiting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The recession is affecting artists, dancers and musicians everywhere, including the Bay Area, but hope is on the way. A House committee in Washington is examining how communities everywhere are being affected. $50 million has been set aside to give a boost to the arts and entertainment industry. The arts are big business generating 5.7 million jobs and $166 billion in economic activity each year. The House Education and Labor Committee, chaired by Congressman George Miller (D) of Concord, was told artists are unemployed and need their share of the stimulus package.

Watch the full report here.
WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and chief House co-sponsor of the legislation, issued the following statement today after the Senate passed H.R. 1388, the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, national service legislation, by a vote of 78 to 20. Last week the House approved similar legislation with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 321 to 105.  
WASHINGTON, DC – Communities across the country are suffering as arts and music organizations struggle with declining budgets, job losses and other effects of the economic crisis, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today.
 

The Economic and Employment Impact of the Arts and Music Industry

Full Committee Hearing 10:00 AM, March 26, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to examine how the economy is affecting jobs in the arts and music industries, and the role these industries play in communities across the country. This is the first in a series of hearings the Committee will hold this Spring.

Recent news reports have highlighted the tough economic realities arts and music organizations are facing – many are cutting budgets and programs that are the engine of the local economy and provide meaningful employment opportunities for workers. According to research conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, unemployment in the arts rose at a higher rate than the overall workforce in 2008.

Committee Hearing on Job Losses in the Arts and Music Industries

On Thursday, March 26, the Committee will hold a hearing to examine how the economy is affecting jobs in the arts and music industries, and the role these industries play in communities across the country. This is the first in a series of hearings the Committee will hold this Spring.

Recent news reports have highlighted the tough economic realities arts and music organizations are facing – many are cutting budgets and programs that are the engine of the local economy and provide meaningful employment opportunities for workers. According to research conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, unemployment for artists rose at a higher rate than the overall workforce in 2008.

News of the Day: Expanding National Service

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In yesterday's New York Times, they ran an editorial highlighting the GIVE Act and its value to America. The Editorial Board highlights the measure this way:

The nation is close to a major civic breakthrough. By a 321-to-105 vote last week, the House approved an ambitious bipartisan measure to enlarge the opportunities for Americans of all ages and income levels to participate in productive national and community service.

A similar plan is now before the Senate. A favorable vote this week would help speed a worthy initiative to President Obama’s desk.

Essentially, the measure is an expansion of AmeriCorps, the existing domestic service program. It would increase the number of full-time and part-time service volunteers to 250,000 from 75,000 and create new programs focused on special areas like strengthening schools, improving health care for low-income communities, boosting energy efficiency and cleaning up parks.
This editorial sums up the importance of this bi-partisan effort like this:

This is a chance to constructively harness the idealism of thousands of Americans eager to contribute time and energy to solving the nation’s problems — a chance not to be missed.
We recommend you read the entire editorial.

News of the Day: Bill would create corps of vets helping vets

USA Today reported Friday, that unemployment amongst veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan was at 11.2 percent. The GIVE Act could help mitigate this through The GIVE Act by creating opportunities for veterans to provide education, mentoring, and job training to fellow servicemen.

In Saturday’s edition of the Navy Times, Rick Maze highlights one of the provisions of the GIVE Act that would create a separate Veterans’ Corps designed to help veterans meet the needs of their fellow servicemen and women.

A new national service program in which veterans would help other veterans was approved by the House of Representatives this week after an amendment was approved ensuring that volunteers earn extra education benefits — without risking GI Bill benefits already earned — for their additional service.

The Veterans’ Corps is part of a larger national service bill, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act, or GIVE Act, which passed the House on Wednesday by a 321-105 vote. The bill, HR 1388, now goes to the Senate, where there is also interest in creating a special national service program for veterans.

Read the rest of the article for additional information about the Veterans’ Corps.

News of the Day: A New Era of Service

President Barack Obama has a new column in Time magazine this week entitled "A New Era of Service" where he explains that through service, he found that his story fit into the larger American story.

In this spirit, Congress is now poised to send me bipartisan legislation — the Serve America and GIVE Acts — that, if passed, will usher in a new era of service in this new century.

This legislation will help connect people at all stages of life with opportunities to serve. It will establish an army of 250,000 Americans a year who are willing to serve part time or full time working to meet our most pressing challenges, from modernizing our schools to building homes for those in need. And this legislation will provide new support for social entrepreneurship, identifying and nurturing promising new service programs around the country.

Members of Congress from across the political spectrum — from Senators Orrin Hatch and Mike Enzi and Representative Howard (Buck) McKeon to Senators Ted Kennedy and Barbara Mikulski and Representative George Miller — have pledged their support for this legislation. I urge Congress to follow their lead and move quickly to pass it so that I can sign it into law. And I pledge that my Administration will also do its part to help more Americans serve their communities. At this time of economic crisis, when so many people are in need of help, this work could not be more urgent.

We encourage you to read the entire column here and learn more about the GIVE Act here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed a bill to dramatically expand national service opportunities and help Americans play a role in the economic recovery. The bill, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, passed the House with a vote of 321 to 105.

National Service Bill Will Expand Green Service for Americans

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans, from 75,000 to 250,000, in part by establishing a new Clean Energy Corps focused on energy efficiency and conservation.  The bill will increase the education reward participants receive for this service from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award.

It will also expand the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include environmental and energy conservation efforts. Many of the new service and volunteer programs it will establish for younger students could include opportunities that enhance climate change education and introduce young Americans to the green-collar jobs of the future by performing energy audits and retrofits, weatherizing homes, rebuilding trails and parks, building and maintaining gardens and green spaces in communities, managing recycling programs, and more.

National Service Bill Will Strengthen Volunteer Disaster Relief Efforts

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The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will help increase our nation’s preparedness in responding to hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other disasters that have devastated communities in recent years.

American service organizations and volunteers have played a vital role in relief and recovery efforts in the wake of tragedies. For example, since August 2005, the Corporation for National and Community Service, has provided more than $130 million worth of relief to Gulf Coast states devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and deployed nearly 92,000 national service volunteers who have put in over 3.5 million hours helping communities rebuild. This doesn’t include the additional 260,000 community volunteers involved in the recovery.

Even before floods devastated homes and businesses in southeast Iowa, volunteers were on the ground. To date, AmeriCorps has coordinated over 800,000 volunteer hours to help the state recover.

The Serve America Act creates a greater infrastructure and capacity for respond to disasters by growing the number of volunteers nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. The bill also makes it possible for existing programs to respond more effectively by expanding the focus of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to include disaster relief and infrastructure improvement.  The bill also establishes an alumni corps of former participants who can be called to service during times of disaster and other emergencies.

National Service Bill Will Expand Service Opportunities for College Students

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The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act comes as nearly 65,000 college students prepare to volunteer and serve on alternative Spring Breaks this year – up 11 percent over last year. Young Americans are serving in record numbers – and facing a difficult job market in today’s economy. Of the 1.2 million jobs lost last year, 60 percent were held by workers under the age of 25.

National and community service and volunteerism among college students is especially high. From September 2001 to 2006, the overall percent of college students who volunteer has increased to over 30 percent, exceeding the volunteer rate for adults. According to a 2006 report by the Corporation for National and Community Service, college students are twice as likely to volunteer as Americans of the same age who are not enrolled in an institution of higher education.

Specifically, the bill (H.R. 1388) will more than triple the number of volunteer opportunities for Americans, from 75,000 to 250,000, in key areas like education, clean energy, health care, and assistance for veterans. The bill will also increase the education reward they receive from $4,725 to $5,350 for next year, the same as the maximum Pell Grant scholarship award. The education award will be linked to match future boosts in the Pell Grant scholarship in order to keep up with rising college costs.
The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act provides the most significant expansion of national service and volunteer opportunities for middle and high school students in generations.

It will help our nation get through the economic crisis by making Americans of all ages a part of the solution to the many challenges facing the nation, including education. The bill will both increase opportunities for students to get involved with service and boost service initiatives focused on education, including mentoring programs and programs that help boost student achievement. This is the largest expansion of national service since President Kennedy issued his call to service over fifty years ago.

National Service Bill Will Expand Service Opportunities for Seniors

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The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will triple the number of volunteers, including the existing Senior Corp program, nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. Currently, Senior Corps is made up of 475,000 volunteers who contribute 116 million hours of service each year. The Senior Corps captures the skills and talents of people over 55 to meet community needs through mentoring, serving as foster grandparents, and helping other seniors continue to live independently. Older Americans will be allowed to transfer their education awards to a child, foster child or grandchild to help them pay for college.

In 2005, nearly a third of all baby boomers volunteered with formal organizations -– the highest volunteer rate of any group of Americans according to the Corporation for National & Community Service. The bill will create Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships that will create opportunities for seniors to transition into service after they have retired. Silver Scholars will be able to earn up to $1,000 in exchange for 350 hours of service. For seniors who may need to re-enter the workforce to make ends meet, these programs can also help them transition into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector. 

National Service Bill Will Expand Service Opportunities for Veterans

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act creates a separate Veteran’s Corps designed to help veterans meet the needs of their fellow servicemen and women. In this economic crisis, this program will help mitigate the disproportionately high levels of unemployment among veterans by creating opportunities for them to continue their highly valued service. To watch a video of Retired Capt. Scott Quilty, who served in Iraq, explain how volunteer opportunities can help veterans recover from war and rebuild communities, click here.

Veterans are uniquely situated to understand and meet the special needs of those returning home from war. The Veteran’s Corps will function similarly to AmeriCorps or Senior Corps by creating opportunities for veterans to continue serving their country. The Serve America Act will support programs that help provide education, mentoring, and job training to fellow veterans. It will be the first program of its kind.

Chairman Miller Floor Statement on Landmark Service Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Below are the prepared remarks of U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, during House consideration of the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act, H.R. 1388

***

Madam Speaker, today we consider legislation that is vital to the spirit of America and to our future. A few weeks ago, President Obama called on Congress to quickly deliver legislation that will launch a new era of American service.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Obama administration today commended legislation the House will consider tomorrow that will provide the most significant expansion of service and volunteer opportunities for Americans in over fifty years. In a Statement of Administration Policy issued this evening, the White House vowed to work with Congress to enact the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act as quickly as possible.

Find Out About National Service in Your State

map-of-national-service-by-state.jpgThe Corporation for National & Community Service offers state-by-state data on which national service programs are currently operating in each state.  Click here to find out about your state »


WASHINGTON, D.C. – More needs to be done to guarantee that at-risk youth educated outside of traditional schools receive a quality education, witnesses told members of House Education and Judiciary subcommittees today. These alternative education settings include certain foster care placements, juvenile justice facilities, alternative education programs and other environments.

Lost Educational Opportunities in Alternative Settings

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee and Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Hearing 10:00 AM, March 12, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
The House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee will hold a joint hearing with the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security to examine if at-risk youth are missing out on educational opportunities while in foster care, juvenile justice facilities, alternative education settings and other environments.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House Education and Labor Committee today overwhelmingly approved legislation to launch a new era of American service and volunteerism. The bill answers President Obama’s call for Americans of all generations to help get the country through the economic crisis by serving and volunteering in their communities

Committee Passes Bill to Revitalize National Service and Volunteerism

Today, the Committee approved the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act by a bipartisan vote of 34-3.  In his address to a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama made national service a key priority and asked Congress to take quick action. This legislation, which the House is expected to consider in the coming weeks, answers his call.

The GIVE Act will create new service opportunities for Americans by more than tripling the current number of volunteers, raising the number to 250,000. It will also boost the education awards volunteers receive in exchange for their service - encouraging more young students to get involved in service while helping them pay for college. And it will help prepare current and future generations for jobs in the green economy, and establish a Veterans Corp to meet the unique needs of veterans and military families.


Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act

Full Committee Markup 10:00 AM, March 11, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC

Committee to Vote on Legislation to Revitalize National Service and Volunteerism

On Wednesday, March 11th, the Committee will vote on bipartisan legislation that will launch a new era of service and volunteerism to help America get through the economic crisis.

President Obama called on Congress to send him similar legislation in his first major address to Congress; the House is expected to consider the measure in the coming weeks.

The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act will create new service opportunities for Americans by more than tripling the current number of volunteers, raising the number to 250,000. It will also boost the education awards volunteers receive in exchange for their service - encouraging more young students to get involved in service while helping them pay for college. And it will help prepare current and future generations for jobs in the green economy, and establish a Veterans Corp to meet the unique needs of veterans and military families.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) today introduced comprehensive legislation that would call generations of Americans to serve and volunteer in areas of national need that are intensifying with the recession.

The Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act

Please see our page on the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act for the latest version of this legislation.


Calling Americans to Serve at a Critical Time


America is facing unprecedented challenges – the economy, health care, energy, schools in need of improvement and more. With our public needs intensifying in this recession, there’s no better time to support and energize community service and volunteerism to help our country get through this economic crisis, restore confidence and prepare our nation for the future.

President Obama has called on Congress to create new opportunities for Americans to build a stronger country by helping students perform better in school, prepare Americans for green and innovative 21st century jobs, rebuild cities in times of disaster, improve communities and much, much more. This legislation, passed by the Committee by a vote of 34-3 on March 11, 2009, answers his call. It will launch a new era of service that will give Americans of all ages an opportunity to invest through service in our nation’s recovery.

Expanding Service Opportunities for College Students »

Expanding Service Opportunities for Middle and High School Students
»
Expanding Service Opportunities for Seniors »
Expanding Green Service for Americans »
Expanding Service Opportunities for Veterans »
Strengthening Volunteer Disaster Relief Efforts »
Find Out About National Service in Your State »

News of the Day: The GIVE Act

Answering President Obama's call for increased volunteer opportunities, Chairman Miller will be introducing the GIVE Act today. Jonathon Alter's Newsweek story provides excellent background about this bill.

On Monday, Miller will announce that the GIVE Act (don't ask what the acronym means; too clunky) is on its way to passage by the House. Because representatives of the House, Senate and White House have been working together on a bipartisan basis for weeks, the skids are now greased for quick Senate passage of the Kennedy-Hatch Act for national service, the only specific piece of legislation the president mentioned in his address to Congress last month. Differences between the House and Senate versions will be minor.

In addition to Mr. Alter's story, ABC has a short story to accompany a two-minute video on Good Morning America this morning.

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On Thursday, March 12, the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities will hold a joint hearing with the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security to examine if at-risk youth are missing out on educational opportunities while in foster care, juvenile justice facilities, alternative education settings and other environments.

WHAT:         
Hearing on “Lost Educational Opportunities in Alternative Settings”

WHO:           
Dr. Thomas Blomberg, Professor of Criminology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Ms. Linda Brooke, Director of Government Relations and Education Services, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, Austin, TX 
Dr. Cynthia Cave, Director, Office of Student Services, Richmond, VA
Leonard Dixon, M.S., Executive Director, Wayne County Juvenile Detention Facility, Detroit, MI
Janeen Steel, Esq., Executive Director, Learning Rights Law Center, Los Angeles, CA
Additional Witnesses TBA

WHEN:         
Thursday, March 12, 2009
10:00 a.m. EDT

WHERE:      
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

Please check the Committee's schedule for updates.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, today praised President Obama for his significant commitment to investing in national and community service opportunities for Americans in his budget overview. At a committee hearing yesterday, Miller announced that a comprehensive bill to strengthen and grow national service is the next legislative priority for his committee. 

Photos from Today's National Service and Volunteerism Hearing

Photos from today's hearing on "Renewing America through National Service and Volunteerism" (click on photos for more information):


Created with flickrSLiDR.

Usher Testifies on Improving Service and Volunteerism

On February 25th, recording artist Usher testified before the Committee on Education and Labor at a hearing examining how to renew America through national service and volunteerism.  Watch the video of Usher here »  The hearing built on the important conversations happening across the country on national service and volunteerism, examining the importance of national and community service in meeting critical economic needs across the country. TIME’s Richard Stengel and former Senator Harris Wofford also testified.  

Chairman George Miller's opening statement:




Usher's testimony:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With public needs intensifying in the economic crisis, strengthening national service opportunities must be one of the next steps Congress takes to revive the economy, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today.  Today’s hearing came a day after President Obama made national and community service a key part of his agenda during his first joint address to Congress by urging Congress to act quickly to bolster service and volunteer programs.

Renewing America through National Service and Volunteerism

Full Committee Hearing 10:00 AM, February 25, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC
To build on the important conversations happening across the country on national service and volunteerism, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 25, to examine the importance of national and community service in meeting critical economic needs across the country. This will be the first full committee education hearing held in the 111th Congress.

Boosting community service is a key priority for President Obama, whose official Inauguration activities included a “National Day of Service” where hundreds of thousands of Americans volunteered in their communities. Among other things, the hearing will focus on reinvigorating civic engagement across all levels of society, expanding opportunities for young people to participate in service, and how national and community service can help “green” America.

Today: Hearing on Improving Service and Volunteerism

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Today, Wednesday, February 25th, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing to build on the important conversations happening across the country on national service and volunteerism and to examine the importance of national and community service in meeting critical economic needs across the country. Recording Artist Usher and TIME’s Richard Stengel are among the witnesses to testify.  Watch live here »

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 26th, the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness will hold a second hearing about New Innovations and Best Practices Under the Workforce Investment Act at 10:00 am in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.

All hearings will be broadcast live here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved legislation to protect teenagers attending residential programs from physical, mental, and sexual abuse and increase transparency to help parents make safe choices for their children. The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 (H.R. 911) won strong bipartisan support, with a vote of 295 to 102.

Investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office during the 110th Congress at the request of U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, uncovered thousands of cases and allegations of child abuse and neglect since the early 1990’s at teen residential programs, including therapeutic boarding schools, boot camps, wilderness programs and behavior modification facilities. A separate GAO report also conducted at Miller’s request found major gaps in the licensing and oversight of residential programs. Where state licensing standards exist, these programs are governed by a weak patchwork of state and federal standards, however some are not covered at all.

House Vote TODAY on Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009

This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on legislation to prevent the abuse of teens attending residential treatment facilities, including boot camps, therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness programs and behavior modification facilities.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office uncovered thousands of cases and allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect at residential treatment facilities across the country. In some cases, this abuse resulted in the death of a child. This legislation, the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 (H.R. 911) is similar to legislation the House passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the 110th Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today the House Education and Labor Committee approved legislation to protect teenagers attending residential treatment programs, including therapeutic boarding schools, boot camps, wilderness programs and behavior modification facilities, from physical, mental, and sexual abuse and increase transparency to help parents make safe choices for their children.

Committee Passes Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009

Today the Committee approved the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 by a vote of 32-10.  This legislation will protect teenagers attending residential treatment programs, including therapeutic boarding schools, boot camps, wilderness programs and behavior modification facilities, from physical, mental, and sexual abuse and increase transparency to help parents make safe choices for their children.

Investigations conducted by the Government Accountability Office during the 110th Congress uncovered thousands of cases and allegations of child abuse and neglect since the early 1990’s at teen residential programs. Currently, these programs are governed only by a weak patchwork of state and federal standards. A separate GAO report, also conducted last year at the committee’s request, found major gaps in the licensing and oversight of residential programs – some of which are not covered by any state licensing standards at all. More »

Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009

Full Committee Markup 10:15 AM, February 11, 2009 2175 Rayburn H.O.B
Washington, DC

 

The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009

Keeping Kids Safe

Tens of thousands of U.S. teenagers attend private and public residential programs – including therapeutic boarding schools, wilderness camps, boot camps, and behavior modification facilities – that are intended to help them with behavioral, emotional, mental health, or substance abuse problems. Depending on the state in which the program operates, some of these programs are subject to State law or regulation, while others are not. As a result of this loose patchwork of state oversight, children at some the programs have been subject to abuse and neglect with little to no accountability.

The Government Accountability Office found thousands of allegations of child abuse and neglect at residential programs for teens since the early 1990s. Tragically, in a number of cases, this abuse and neglect led to the death of a child. To address this urgent problem, the “Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009” would:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) today reintroduced legislation to protect teenagers attending residential treatment programs from physical, mental and sexual abuse and to prevent deceptive marketing practices by operators of private residential programs for teens. The lawmakers also announced that the House Education and Labor Committee will mark up the legislation on Wednesday. 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the arts and music among the many industries being hit hard in economic downturn, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today announced plans to hold a series of hearings this Spring to examine how the arts benefit the nation’s economy and schools – and what can be done to improve support for the arts and music fields. 
To build on the important conversations happening across the country on national service and volunteerism, the Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, February 25, to examine the importance of national and community service in meeting critical economic needs across the country.  This will be the first full committee education hearing held in the 111th Congress.

Boosting community service is a key priority for President Obama, whose official Inauguration activities included a “National Day of Service” where hundreds of thousands of Americans volunteered in their communities. Among other things, the hearing will focus on reinvigorating civic engagement across all levels of society, expanding opportunities for young people to participate in service, and how national and community service can help “green” America.  

WHAT:        
Hearing on Improving America’s Commitment to Service and Volunteerism

WHO:            
Usher Raymond IV, recording artist, chairman, Usher’s New Look Foundation
James Harris, youth participant, Usher’s New Look Foundation
Richard Stengel, managing editor, TIME Magazine
Van Jones, founder and president, Green for All
Other Witnesses TBD

WHEN:         
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
10:00 A.M. EST

WHERE:       
House Education and Labor Committee Hearing Room
2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following new reports that peanuts associated with the widespread salmonella outbreak made it into the nation’s school cafeterias, Democratic lawmakers today called for the U.S. Government Accountability Office to expand an ongoing investigation into the safety of foods used in the federal school lunch program to include contaminated peanuts. This would be the first independent government investigation into the effects of the outbreak on schoolchildren.

Measure to Protect Runaway and Homeless Youth Heads to White House

On September 26, the House of Representatives approved final bipartisan legislation to strengthen protections and support for America’s runaway and homeless children. The measure, the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act (S.2982), builds on legislation authored by Rep. John Yarmuth, which the House overwhelmingly passed on June 9, 2008. It now heads to the President’s desk for his signature.

"Child Labor Enforcement: Are We Adequately Protecting our Children?"

Workforce Protections Subcommittee Hearing 11:00 AM, September 23, 2008
This hearing examined whether the Department of Labor is doing enough to enforce U.S. child labor laws and will explore the impact of child labor on families.

"Examining the Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 9:30 AM, September 11, 2008
On Thursday, September 11, 2008, the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "Examining the Role of Museums and Libraries in Strengthening Communities," scheduled at 10:00 a.m. in room 2175 Rayburn H.O.B.

Witnesses today told the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee that the field of social work affects the lives of Americans from all walks of life on a daily basis, and though the field faces some challenges, it is expected to grow in the coming years.

"Caring for the Vulnerable: The State of Social Work in America"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 3:00 PM, July 29, 2008

Upcoming Hearing: Role of Social Work in a Changing America

In light of the recent economic downturn and the nation’s aging population, the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, July 29 to examine how social workers can best meet the changing needs of American families.

Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee Hearing on “Caring for the Vulnerable: The State of Social Work in America”
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 3:00 p.m. EDT
With food prices continuing to soar, the Committee will hold a hearing at 10am tomorrow, July 9, to examine how rising food costs are making it harder for the nation’s child nutrition and school meal programs to provide healthy, low-cost meals for children. Nationwide, nearly 50 million children are served by federal child nutrition programs, which include school lunch programs, childcare programs, and summer food programs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whole grain breads, milk, and cheese prices increased by as much as 17 percent in 2007, and the costs of fresh fruits and vegetables are also up.

"Restoring America’s Leadership Through Scholarships for Undergraduates from Developing Countries: The Uniting Students in America (USA) Proposal"

Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee and Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness and Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizationas, Human Rights, and Oversight Hearing 9:30 AM, June 19, 2008

"No Child Left Inside Act of 2007"

Full Committee Markup 10:00 AM, June 18, 2008

"Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008"

Full Committee Markup 10:15 AM, May 14, 2008

"Child Abuse and Deceptive Marketing by Residential Programs for Teens"

Full Committee Hearing 10:00 AM, April 24, 2008
The Committee held a hearing to examine allegations of child abuse and deceptive marketing at residential programs for teens, including boot camps, wilderness camps, therapeutic boarding schools, and behavior modification facilities. The hearing also examined legislation to prevent child abuse in these programs by establishing standards for the programs.

The committee heard about the results of undercover work from the Government Accountability Office and from individuals who attended residential programs when they were teenagers.

"Challenges and Opportunities for Improving School Nutrition"

Full Committee Hearing 3:30 PM, March 4, 2008
The Committee held a hearing to examine how to improve nutrition and food safety in the nation’s schools. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture ordered the largest recall of meat in the nation’s history after investigations revealed that meat from non-ambulatory (or "downer") cows at a California slaughterhouse had been allowed to enter the food supply. More than a third of the tainted meat had gone to federal nutrition programs, including to schools.

"LIHEAP: Overview and Current Issues"

Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Subcommittee Hearing 3:00 PM, November 13, 2007

"Cases of Child Neglect and Abuse at Private Residential Treatment Facilities"

Full Committee Hearing 10:30 AM, October 10, 2007

"Examining Competitiveness Through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math"

Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Hearing 9:30 AM, September 21, 2007 Kellogg West Conference Center
3801 West Temple Avenue
California State Polytechnic University
Pomona, California

"The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 10:00 AM, September 18, 2007

"Workforce Investment Act: Ideas to Improve the Workforce Development System"

Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Hearing 10:00 AM, July 26, 2007

"Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children: Perspectives on Helping the Nation’s Vulnerable Youth"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 3:00 PM, July 24, 2007

"Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act: Overview and Perspectives"

Healthy Families and Communities and Judiciary Committee's Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee Hearing 2:00 PM, July 12, 2007

"Workforce Investment Act: Recommendations to Improve the Effectiveness of Job Training"

Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness Hearing 1:30 PM, June 28, 2007

"Generations Invigorating Volunteering and Education (GIVE) Act"

Full Committee Markup 10:30 AM, June 27, 2007
* 2 Members voting present

"Balancing Work and Family: What Policies Best Support America's Families?"

Workforce Protections Hearing 1:30 PM, June 21, 2007

"Protecting Our Youth: Paths to Gang Prevention in Our Communities"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 10:00 AM, June 4, 2007 Village Hall
46 North Ocean Avenue
Freeport, NY

"Using School Wellness Plans to Help Fight Childhood Obesity"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 2:00 PM, May 10, 2007

"Renewing the Spirit of National and Community Service"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 10:30 AM, April 19, 2007

"Strengthening Communities: An Overview of Service and Volunteering in America"

Healthy Families and Communities Hearing 2:00 PM, February 27, 2007
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