Members and Advocates Call on Congress to Reject the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill

Press Release

Members of Congress today joined advocates, educators, doctors, and parents to call on Congress to reject the harmful Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill that is being pushed through Congress by House Republicans. The Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016 would shortchange critical nutrition programs like the national school lunch program and the summer meals program, rather than invest in America's children.

Last month, more than 100 Members of Congress wrote a letter calling on House leaders to strengthen nutrition programs during the reauthorization process in order to further reduce hunger, improve health, and support learning. However, Speaker Ryan and Republicans crafted a bill that significantly decreases children's access to school lunch and breakfast in high-poverty schools. The bill also provides a blueprint to eviscerate the entire school lunch program down the road, which undermines the goal of alleviating both hunger and poverty.

"Speaker Ryan and Republicans continue to focus on issues like poverty and child nutrition, even going as far as promising "a better way,' yet the so-called Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act is the wrong way," said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). "Every Congressional district is impacted by the cuts in this bill. Hunger exists in each and every community in our nation, whether it is represented by a Republican or a Democrat. If the Majority wants to gut the school lunch program, they will have to look parents, teachers, and pediatricians in the eyes and explain why they are choosing to let their children go hungry."

"Congress has a moral responsibility to ensure that no child goes hungry in America," said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. "Republicans' "Wrong Way' agenda would take food from millions of low-income students -- and they have no right to nickel and dime hungry children while asking nothing of millionaires and corporations shipping jobs overseas. This is a values debate, and I thank Congresswoman DeLauro for her relentless leadership in calling it to everyone's attention."

"The Republicans' proposal to reauthorize our nation's child nutrition programs would not only hurt students and families, it would also weaken our nation's economy, public health system and national security," said Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03). "Our work to reauthorize child nutrition programs presents a great opportunity to continue to change the way children eat, to expand their access to nutritious meals, and to end the child hunger crisis in our country. Committee Democrats will not compromise on these standards and we will continue to fight to protect access to these critical programs."

"Block granting school lunch is blockheaded. Like the recent Republican vote to terminate the Social Services Block Grant, this is really a chopping block grant. It is designed to make it easier to chop up the school nutrition program," said Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35). "The Ryan poverty agenda is hardly new or novel; rather it is an impoverished approach that will deny opportunity to many of our neighbors."

"For the life of me, I can't figure out why House Republicans are so intent on making child hunger worse, but that's exactly what their Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill would do," said Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Nutrition Subcommittee. "Republicans' proposal to block grant funding for our child nutrition programs would make it easier for states to divert these essential funds to plug holes in their budgets. The result would be fewer school meals for our most vulnerable students. Taking food away from kids is cruel and it's a rotten thing to do. School meals are not only an important part of our country's safety net -- they are vital for kids to learn in the classroom. I've seen too many hungry kids in our country and it breaks my heart. To turn our backs on our kids who are 100 percent of this country's future makes absolutely no sense. House Democrats will not let that happen. If Speaker Ryan and House Republicans want a fight, they've got one."

"No child in America should go hungry," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01). "Unfortunately, the partisan legislation passed by the House Education Committee would make it more difficult for children in Oregon and across the country to access healthy meals. Congress should develop bipartisan, commonsense legislation that reinforces important nutrition standards and expands access to healthy foods, which support children's development and set them up for success in the classroom and beyond. I've heard from parents, students, teachers, and child care providers in my district about the need for real solutions and meaningful action. The House would take us in the wrong direction."

"The Republican proposal for Child Nutrition Reauthorization is a telling statement of conservative priorities. The bill restricts students' access to programs that address hunger, rolls back standards that make school meals more nutritious, and seeks to turn school meal programs into block grants, which is a commonly used tool to disguise harsh and unpopular cuts," said Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41). "Millions of children rely on our school meal programs every day and we cannot allow this Congress to put their health and well-being at risk."