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Senate Ag Committee starts child nutrition discussion

The heads of the Senate Ag Committee say they expect bipartisan support that passed the 2018 Farm Bill to carryover in reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act.

Chair Pat Roberts says the last child nutrition reauthorization was completed in 2010 and a fresh look into the program is needed.

“Considering how many [school] districts there are in the entire United States, and how different each district is, it is clear that a one-size fits all approach will not work for everyone.”     

Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow says the National School Lunch Program was started in the 1940s to address malnutrition, today leaders need to address childhood obesity.

“With 14 percent of children as young as two showing signs of obesity, we have to address this issue early and everywhere our children are forming healthy habits”   

She highlighted Michigan’s efforts as a national example during a recent committee hearing.

“Nearly 1,600 schools in cities from Dexter to Detroit are using Farm-to-School initiatives to grow their own salad greens, tomatoes, and peppers.”      

Roberts is pushing to pass a bill out of committee before the end of the year.