The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“USDA PROPOSED RULE FOR SCHOOL MEALS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1890-E1891 on Oct. 18, 2011.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
USDA PROPOSED RULE FOR SCHOOL MEALS
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HON. RENEE L. ELLMERS
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Mrs. ELLMERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during National School Lunch Week to express my concern about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed rule change to the National School Lunch Program. As a mother and a nurse and a representative of the medical community, families, and farmers in the second district of North Carolina, I fully support improving nutrition for our nation's school children, and I believe that we must do everything we can to protect against childhood obesity.
But in this time of economic uncertainty, we cannot overlook the unintended consequences of these new and conflicting standards. A recent Gallup poll found that 19 percent of American families are food insecure. According to a study by the USDA, nearly 17 million American children struggle with hunger. For many of these children, school is their most reliable source of a well balanced meal.
In my state more than half of the school food programs in the state are operating in the red, losing a total of $28 million in 2008. Their financial problems are mounting at a time when parents, child health advocates and legislators are looking to school food programs to improve students' nutrition at a sensible and affordable price. In 2006, the state legislature required schools to serve more fruits, vegetables and whole-grain food, and fewer dishes with lots of fat and sugar. However, it did not kick in extra money for the higher costs of the more nutritious foods. Collectively, school food programs in North Carolina spent $683 million during the last school year. Almost half, 47 percent, went to salaries and benefits. The rest went to food purchases (44 percent) and other expenses (9 percent).
According to USDA estimates, this new school meals rule will cost taxpayers $6.8 billion over the next ten years. How are we going to afford that?
At a time when so many are hungry and the National School Lunch Program is serving more children than ever, I have strong reservations with USDA's proposal to place serious limitations on school nutritionists' options in building nutritious meal plans for the nation's school children and increase the price of school meals. In many cases, the proposal would eliminate foods that are both nutritious and popular with children. The school lunch program is intended to feed hungry kids, not pick ``good foods'' and ``bad foods''. The new guidelines would limit starchy vegetables--corn, peas and lima beans, in addition to potatoes--to two servings a week. That's about one cup. As a parent, I would like to see more of these vegetables consumed, not less. School nutritionists should be applauded for the work they do in constructing meals that kids love and give them the energy they need to succeed in the classroom.
This rule will cost taxpayers $6.8 billion over the next ten years. In this current fiscal crisis, our school children and taxpayers cannot afford to adapt to inconsistent, costly and unproven regulations. USDA should revisit its proposal and write a rule that does not put limitations on school nutritionists' choices in how to best feed hungry children or put further economic pressures on food companies that supply schools and the American taxpayer.
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