For Immediate Release – Critz Praises Passage of Legislation to Reduce Childhood Hunger and Obesity

The Honorable Mark S. Critz

United States House of Representatives

1022 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

www.critz.house.gov

December 2, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: MATT MAZONKEY

PHONE: (202) 225-2065

MATTHEW.MAZONKEY@MAIL.HOUSE.GOV

Critz Praises Passage of Legislation to Reduce Childhood Hunger and Obesity

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act Heads to the President for his Signature

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mark S. Critz (PA-12) announced today that Congress has passed the most significant improvements to child nutrition programs in more than 30 years – the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which provides $4.5 billion over the next 10 years to reduce childhood hunger and childhood obesity.

This legislation, which is fully paid for, will improve the nutritional quality of meals to promote children’s health and reduce childhood obesity while increasing access to nutrition programs to reduce childhood hunger.

“Over 31 million children participate in the National School Lunch Program, including over 1.1 million children in Pennsylvania alone,” commented Critz. “With this important legislation, our kids will benefit from increased resources to improve school meal quality, expanded access to nutritious food, and updated nutrition standards to remove junk food and drinks from school vending machines.”

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed the House 264-157. It now heads to the President for his signature.

Focusing on Nutrition Quality to Improve Children’s Health and Reduce Childhood Obesity:

Improves the nutritional quality of school meals by increasing the federal reimbursement rate for school lunches – the first reimbursement rate increase in more than 30 years – helping schools provide children with healthier meals.
One landmark provision in the bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop science-based nutrition standards for all foods sold on a school campus during the school day – significantly reducing the availability of high calorie junk foods and sugary beverages.
Connects more children to healthy produce from local farms by helping communities establish farm-to-school programs, create school gardens and use more local foods in school cafeterias.

Improving Access to Child Nutrition Programs to Reduce Childhood Hunger:

Increases the number of eligible children enrolled in school meals programs by using Medicaid data to directly certify children who meet income requirements. This provision is estimated to connect about 115,000 new students to the school meal programs.
Expands the after-school supper program for at-risk children nationwide, by allowing the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) providers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to be reimbursed for providing a meal to at-risk children after school. This provision is estimated to provide an additional 21 million meals to at-risk children annually.

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Matthew S. Mazonkey

Chief of Staff

Congressman Mark S. Critz (PA-12)

1022 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

(202) 225-2065 (office)

(202) 445-9368 (cell)