Too often in Washington, positive change is stalled because our two parties are unable to come together and agree on solutions to benefit the country. Fortunately, in this Congress, we recently saw a true bipartisan effort that will have a lasting impact on the health of our nation without any additional cost to taxpayers or increase in our national deficit.
While child hunger was a significant problem before the recession, the recession has made the problem much worse. The percentage of children living in food-insecure households rose by 34 percent from 2007 to 2008.[i] Undernourished children 0-3 years of age cannot learn as much, as fast or as well because their condition changes the fundamental architecture of the brain and central nervous system.[1] [2] Lack of enough nutritious food impairs a child’s ability to concentrate and perform well in school.[3] The annual cost of our nation’s hunger problem is estimated at over $90 billion per year, and costs Indiana roughly $1.9 billion per year.[4]
The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs feed more than 30 million kids every day in 99% of public schools. Many of these schools can’t afford to provide nutritious option for students and must rely on inexpensive, less-healthy food sources.
Because more than 50 percent of children’s total daily calorie intake can be consumed at schools, the food available to students at school can have significant impacts on their health. Children who eat breakfast score better on tests, show improved learning skills and memory retention, and have lower rates of tardiness and absenteeism.[5]
In addition to facing added transportation barriers that limit participation in child nutrition programs, rural communities have a greater prevalence of hunger and poverty. The fact that rural communities experience both poorer access and greater need underscores the importance of making investments in improved program access.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act improves funding and standards for school meal programs over the next ten years. The act will go a long way towards ending hunger for our kids by providing nutritious food in schools that will help them stay healthy and succeed in the classroom.
The bill would strengthen and streamline the child nutrition programs. It includes several no-cost reforms to simplify program management and improve program integrity. The bill is fully paid for and requires no new government spending. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will save $11 million by 2020 from the federal deficit. The bill would invest in Farm to School programs that improve the nutritional quality of school meals while supporting local farmers.
This bipartisan bill has widespread support. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed this legislation this summer. 83 percent of Americans support expanding the Child Nutrition Act to “provide healthier food and cover more kids”. It is supported by more than 100 health, education, anti-hunger, and industry groups, including American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Feeding America, and more. It is also supported by the food and beverage industry, including Nestle, International Dairy Foods Association, Coke, and Pepsi.
By voting to for this important bill before it expires in December, the members of the Indiana Congressional delegation can ensure that school meals programs operate more efficiently and make the best use of taxpayer dollars. Updated data on child hunger in 2009 will be released on November 15, the same day Congress returns to Washington, and is likely to show another increase. Congress must pass the child nutrition bill immediately when they return.
Emily Weikert Bryant is the executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, the state association of food banks.
i Nord, M., Andrews, M., Carlson, S. Household Food Security in the United States, 2008. USDA ERR-83.
[1] Cook J.T., Frank D.A. Food Security, Poverty, and Human Development in the United States. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2008 (Online Early Articles). doi:10.1196/annals. 1425.001, http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1196/annals.1425.001?cookieSet=1.
[2] National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (2000) From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development. Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development. Jack P. Shonkoff and Deborah A. Phillips, eds. Board on Children, Youth , and Families, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
[3] Jyoti D.F., Frongillo E.A., Jones S.J. Food Insecurity Affects School Children’s Academic Performance, Weight Gain, and Social Skills. J Nutr, 2005 Dec; 135: 2831-2839.
[5] Breakfast and Learning: An Updated Review, Current Nutrition & Food Science. Vol. 3, p. 3-36. 2007.
