National School Breakfast Program

Floor Speech

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We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We also know that it's nearly impossible to learn on an empty stomach. These are two of the most important reasons why the school breakfast program is so important.

I'm pleased to be a cosponsor of this important resolution recognizing the importance of school breakfasts. I want to commend the gentlewoman from Wisconsin, Congresswoman Moore, for introducing this important resolution and I want to recognize and honor the members of the School Nutrition Association who are here in Washington, DC, this week for their national conference.

The school breakfast program allows qualified students to eat a meal at school for either free or for a reduced price. Together with the school lunch program and after school meal programs, the school breakfast program allows America's school-aged children to receive nutritious meals while at school.

Unfortunately, there are shortcomings in the school meal program that need to be addressed in the future.

One issue is the underfunding of summer feeding programs. The Federal Government does not fund summer meals at the same level as it funds meals delivered at school. Any child who receives a meal at school shouldn't have to go without a meal during the summer months simply because Congress doesn't properly fund that part of the program.

Another is obesity and nutritious foods. Obesity is a real crisis and we need to ensure that our children are eating the most nutritious foods available. School meals must meet rigorous nutritional standards and they should be consistent nationwide. We also have to be conscious about the rising cost of food and the impact of these rising costs on the school meal programs.

A third issue is the difference between free and reduced price meals. Unfortunately, some qualified children receive free meals at school while others must pay a portion of the meal price.

Finally, I want to express my strong support for school breakfast programs that begin when class starts, or ``at the bell.'' Most children who eat school breakfast must arrive at school before class starts. That can be both a hardship for the children and their families in trying to get them to school in time to eat. But it can also be a social stigma for these children who arrive early to eat because it's clear which children must arrive early to eat. We can eliminate that social stigma by serving school breakfasts at the bell.

The Child Nutrition Act will be reauthorized next year, and we will have an opportunity to make substantive improvements in these important school meal programs. But today, we are recognizing the importance of the school breakfast programs and honoring the people who administer and work on these programs in school districts across the country.

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