Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 -- (House of Representatives - June 24, 2004)
Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 2507) to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide children with increased access to food and nutrition assistance, to simplify program operations and improve program management, to reauthorize child nutrition programs, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Ohio?
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, although I do not intend to object, I ask the gentleman to offer an explanation of his request.
Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, which represents months of hard work and commitment to bipartisan cooperation.
In that spirit we have before us a bill that will extend the life of the Federal child nutrition programs while strengthening program integrity, ensuring effective use of Federal resources, and providing continued nutritional services for millions of American children. And I am pleased to have reached a bipartisan, bicameral consensus that finally will allow the President to sign these important reforms into law.
First and foremost, I want to recognize the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), chairman; and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), ranking member of the Education Reform Subcommittee, who deserve a great deal of credit for their hard work and cooperation that have brought this bill before us today. I also want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller), the ranking member of the committee, for his continued commitment to a bipartisan, cooperative process.
The Federal child nutrition programs ensure millions of needy children have access to nutritious meals. While we all know that a healthful diet is necessary for children to achieve full physical development and long-term health and is critical for academic success as well in school, for this reason the investment in these programs is considerable. And so is our obligation to ensure our Federal resources are being used effectively and efficiently. Children and families depend on Federal child nutrition programs, and they depend on us to ensure that these programs are being administered with integrity.
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act extends the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs; Child and Adult Care Food Program; After-School Snack Program; the Summer Food Service Program; and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, the WIC program. Taken together, the reforms in this bill will help ensure we are making the most of Federal resources to improve the nutritional health of children while being mindful of program quality and integrity.
The bill before us strikes an important balance between our desire to promote healthy nutritional choices and physical activity among children and the need to preserve local control for our schools. The gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the author of the House version of this legislation, has been a leader in our efforts to reduce the epidemic of child obesity by promoting a comprehensive approach that includes nutrition education and physical activity. In particular, the establishment of a local wellness policy, written at the local level to reflect local needs, marks significant progress that will promote nutrition education and increased physical activity in schools while maintaining local control.
To improve integrity in the Federal child nutrition programs and ensure access for eligible children, the legislation makes a number of positive reforms. The bill allows children whose parents who are in the Armed Forces and living in privatized military housing to continue to receive free or reduced-price meals at school if they meet the eligibility requirements. It also helps parents by allowing them to submit a single application for multiple children and ensures enrollment of eligible children through the use of direct certification of school lunch eligibility for those children and families receiving food stamps.
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act also takes steps to reduce paperwork by allowing school lunch certifications to be valid for 1 full year, preventing situations in which schools are forced to repeatedly certify children within a single school year. The bill also includes a provision originally proposed by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller) to help reduce the stigma amongst children receiving free and reduced-priced lunches by helping schools make technological improvements, such as automated meal card systems that keep students' financial status confidential to increase the efficiency of program operations.
In recognition of the success and popularity of the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot program, which currently provides fresh and dried fruits and fresh vegetables to children in 25 schools in each of four States and one Indian reservation, I am pleased that the bill before us authorizes the continuation and expansion of this valuable pilot program.
And since this measure originally passed the House, we have worked closely with Members on both sides of the aisle and in both legislative bodies to reach a consensus, which is embodied in the bill that we have before us today. And through that process, we have reached an agreement on additional reforms that will further strengthen and improve child nutrition programs. We have included a demonstration program that will allow us to evaluate the impact of eliminating the reduced-price meal category, an initiative many of us are interested in exploring, and authorize six additional States, including my home State of Ohio, to participate in the Lugar pilot program under the Summer Feeding Program.
Additionally, I am pleased to have reached a commonsense solution to address concerns about the most efficient use of taxpayer resources particularly within the WIC program. The bill includes strong cost-containment measures to ensure that WIC food costs and voucher payments are consistent with competitive retail prices for supplemental foods. And this will ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars while protecting our ability to serve the greatest number of eligible women, infants, and children.
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act will prevent important nutritional programs from expiring while ensuring that they continue to operate effectively and efficiently. And I am pleased to support this measure and would encourage my colleagues to do so.
There are a number of staff members from our committee who I believe deserve special recognition and thanks. And they include Stephanie Milburn, Krisann Pearce, Cindy Herrle, Julian Baer, Denise Forte, Linda Theif. And I also want to thank Tyson Redpath on my staff and Sarah Rittling on the gentleman from Delaware's (Mr. Castle) staff. And Kate Houston, she wrote it. Kate Houston spent hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours over this last year shepherding this and working with staff on both sides of the aisle. And I think all of our colleagues realize that we could not do the job that we do as Members without having terrific staff, and on our committee we have got terrific staff on both sides of the aisle. I want to thank all of them.
I include letters for the RECORD.
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
Washington, DC, June 21, 2004.
Hon. JOHN BOEHNER,
Chairman, House Committee on Education and the Workforce, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR CHAIRMAN BOEHNER: As you are aware, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry reported S. 2507, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, on June 7. As reported, S. 2507 contains matters within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture.
Section 104(b)(2) amends the Food Stamp Act of 1977, and section 301 amends the Commodity Distribution Reform Act and WIC Amendments of 1987. Both the Food Stamp Act and the Commodity Distribution Act are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture. In the interest of expediting this matter, however, our committee will not seek referral of S. 2507. I do so with the understanding that by discharging the bill the Committee on Agriculture does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over this or similar measures. In addition, in the event a conference with the Senate is requested on this matter, the Committee on Agriculture reserves the right to seek appointment of conferees, if one should become necessary.
I also ask that you insert a copy of our exchange of letters in the Congressional Record during consideration of S. 2507 on the Floor.
Sincerely,
Bob Goodlatte,
Chairman.
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Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, June 22, 2004.
Hon. BOB GOODLATTE,
Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR CHAIRMAN GOODLATTE: This letter is to confirm our agreement regarding S. 2507, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization. I thank you for working with me, specifically regarding the amendments included in the Senate amendment specifically, Section 104(b)(2) Agreement for Direct Certification and Cooperation and Title III, Commodity Distribution Programs, which are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture.
While these provisions are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Agriculture, I appreciate your willingness to work with me in moving S. 2507 forward without the need for additional consideration in your Committee. I agree that this procedural route should not be construed to prejudice the jurisdictional interest and prerogatives of the Committee on Agriculture on this provision or any other similar legislation and will not be considered as precedent for consideration of matters of jurisdictional interest to your Committee in the future.
I thank you for working with me regarding this matter. I will include a copy of your letter and this response in the Congressional Record during consideration of S. 2507 on the House floor.
Sincerely,
John A. Boehner,
Chairman.
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Committee on Education and the Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, June 22, 2004.
Hon. JOE BARTON,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR CHAIRMAN BARTON: This letter is to confirm our agreement regarding S. 2507, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization. I thank you for working with me, specifically regarding the amendments included in the Senate bill specifically, Section 105(b) Conforming Amendments and Title IV, Miscellaneous which are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
While these provisions are within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, I appreciate your willingness to work with me in moving S. 2507 forward without the need for additional consideration in your Committee. I agree that this procedural route should not be construed to prejudice the jurisdictional interest and prerogatives of the Committee on the Energy and Commerce on this provision or any other similar legislation and will not be considered as precedent for consideration of matters of jurisdictional interest to your Committee in the future.
I thank you for working with me regarding this matter. I will include a copy of this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration of S. 2507 on the House floor.
Sincerely,
John A. Boehner,
Chairman.
Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his explanation.
Continuing under my reservation of objection, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), ranking member of the committee.
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