Today, the U.S. House of Representatives debated the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307), a bill strengthening nutrition programs for low-income children during school and when school is not in session.  The vote was held up because of a procedural tactic. The House is so very, very close to running out of time to improve the health and well-being of hungry children throughout our country and in our state.  We must tell our members to act NOW (as in yesterday) and vote for the passage of this bill!  Calls to your House members are needed by 11:00 a.m. Central time tomorrow (Thursday).

I watched the House debate with butterflies in my stomach.  Many remarks stood out, and I’ll paraphrase without attribution:

“Child nutrition is at the heart of our social network.”

A representative who is a medical doctor used the word ‘idiocy’ to describe the bill.

“Children go to bed hungry at night.  How can that be?”

I almost admired the member who engaged in truly wondrous verbal gymnastics to manipulate the word “noble.” I didn’t because I abhor his position.

Another member told the story of a low-income second grader receiving school lunch and a hedge fund manager heading off to lunch in Manhattan. Hey, both need a mid-day meal. Who probably needs some help getting a wholesome one?

Here’s the latest: The House debated the child nutrition bill this afternoon.  A member filed a Motion to Recommit (above mentioned procedural tactic).  If the Motion passes, the child nutrition bill will return to committee dead on arrival.

Here’s what to do: Call your member of Congress and say: “Dear Member, please do the right thing for hungry children.  Vote ‘NO’ to a Motion to Recommit.  Vote ‘YES’ for passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.”

Otherwise, hungry children will have to wait another five years.

Child hunger is a huge problem nationwide and in Central Texas.  Among national child hunger rates, Texas ranks second.  We have an opportunity to intervene and urge our members of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act (S. 3307).  If passed, this bill will bring millions of new federal dollars to children at risk of hunger in Texas, institute new nutrition standards to fight child obesity, and significantly increase funding for after-school programs such as Kids Cafe.

Now is our chance!  If the Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act does not pass this year, it may not be addressed for several years.

Please call your member of Congress and urge him/her to pass the Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act (S. 3307) to help hungry Texas children.  Feeding America has a toll-free number that provides talking points and will connect you to your member of Congress.  The number is (877) 698-8228.

If you have questions, please email Wendy Heiges, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at wheiges@austinfoodbank.org or directly at (512) 684-2535.

Because of the efforts of so many advocates, including my co-workers here at the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas and the Texas Food Bank Network, we won a brief, but important victory.  The U.S. House of Representatives delayed a vote on a child nutrition bill that would have taken SNAP (food stamp) benefits away from low-income people, many of whom raise children who require the benefits of both programs.

Our work is not done.  Congress will return for a lame-duck session in mid-November.  It’s imperative we sustain our efforts to persuade our members of Congress they must pass a strong Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill without raiding SNAP funds.

I have to come clean — A selfish benefit about blogging about these issues is the opportunity to vent.  I need to do it, you probably need to do it, and my family certainly appreciates it.

I also treasure opportunities to celebrate, whether it’s birthdays, anniversaries, and the accomplishments of my friends and colleagues.  And, I celebrate legislative victories, too.   I suspect many of you out there do the same thing, as evidenced by today’s good news.

Thanks to all who participated in this process. I’ll conclude with a wonderful quote by Jim Weill of the Food Research and Action Center:

“If people fight back, it’s not inevitable.”

Congressman Lloyd Doggett visited with children at the Boys & Girls Club in South Austin on Tuesday to view CAFB’s Summer Food Service Program in action, and learn about the program’s impact in the community. The Summer Food Service Program is one of several child nutrition programs up for renewal this year as part of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

During the visit, Representative Doggett helped to distribute lunches to the children, and spoke with them about the program. “I grew up in Austin and went to elementary school here…I think having a great, safe place for [children] to enjoy the summer like the Boys and Girls Club is important,” the Congressman said. “It’s good to see them here, having a good time in the summer, getting the nutrition they need with school just around the corner.”

The Food Bank opened 22 Summer Food Service Program sites in neighborhoods where most children receive free or reduced-price lunches during the school year. An average of almost 600 meals a day were served to children at risk of hunger in June and July.

“Most of our kids do not have the resources to have lunch each day, and it makes the day go so much better at the club,” said Brian Beaulieu, director of operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. “Not worrying about lunch makes the 10-hour day go a lot smoother. Thanks to a program like this, we can be sure we’re feeding our kids a healthy meal each day.”

Click here to learn about the Summer Food Service Program and to find a participating location near you. Help support Child Nutrition Reauthorization legislation by sending a letter to your congressional leaders.

By Wendy Heiges, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy

Child Nutrition Reauthorization

We need your help in passing Child Nutrition Reauthorization!  Now is the time to tell your member of Congress that you want them to pass a fully-funded child nutrition reauthorization bill by the end of the summer.

BACKGROUND:

President Obama requested $1 billion per year in new investments in Child Nutrition Reauthorization over 10 years.  With nearly a quarter of America’s children at risk, and Texas leading the nation in child hunger, total funding is needed to support vital programs to help end child hunger.

We’ve arrived at a critical moment.  The Senate Agriculture Committee passed a bill in March at less than half of the President’s request for $1 billion per year.  As the House Education and Labor Committee prepares to release its version of the bill, we must demonstrate our support for strong federal child nutrition programs NOW!

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Call your Representative’s office in Washington, D.C.
2. Ask for the staff member who works on nutrition issues. If you cannot reach that person, please leave a voice mail.
3. Provide your name, city, and state.
4. Explain that as a concerned citizen, you care about children at risk of hunger in your community, and you want them to be nourished while in school, after school, and during the summer months.  Leaders in Congress must fully fund Child Nutrition Reauthorization by the end of the summer.
5. Tell us how it went.  Log your call with us online.

THE DEADLINE TO CALL IS THURSDAY, JUNE 10TH

Please contact Wendy Heiges, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy (wheiges@austinfoodbank.org; 512-684-2825) with any questions.

By Wendy Heiges, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy

Just in time for the Memorial Day holiday, House congressional leaders passed H.R. 5146: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. This legislation provides support for our dedicated volunteer military, and also takes a stand on a troubling problem for our nation’s security. A new obesity report: “Too Fat to Fight” claims that 75 percent of young Americans are ineligible to serve their country because they have either failed to graduate high school, engaged in criminal activity, or are physically or mentally unfit. We know those at risk of hunger have an increased risk of obesity, and children who are hungry do not learn as well as they should.  Studies show hungry children are more likely to have chronic illnesses lifetime diagnoses of post traumatic stress disorder and other mental and physical issues. Whether you agree or not with the notion of an “obesity epidemic” in this country, it is clear military standards are not being met by a sufficient population, a cause for concern and action.

Below is an excerpt of the amendment that was added to the bill to address the problems of hunger and obesity in children and its impact on national security. You can read the full amendment here.

SENSE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) reducing domestic childhood obesity and hunger is a matter of national security;

(2) obesity and hunger will continue to negatively impact recruitment for Armed Forces without access to physical activity, healthy food, and proper nutrition;

(3) Congress should act to reduce childhood obesity and hunger;

(4) the Federal Child Nutrition Programs under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) should be funded at the President’s request; and

(5) the increases in funding for such programs should be properly offset.

How did our leaders in Central Texas vote for this amendment?

Take Action: Have you sent a letter to your Congressional Representative about the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill? It’s not too late.  Send a letter online. It’s simple and it’s easy.