For Immediate Release
Senate Vote Makes Children's Health a Top Priority
Washington, D.C.,
August 6, 2010 – Today’s
bipartisan passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (S. 3307) by
the U.S. Senate gives new momentum to efforts to reauthorize the nation’s
federal child nutrition programs before the programs expire on September
30.Today’s action is another step toward ensuring that millions of children
across the country receive healthier breakfasts and lunches in our nation’s
schools everyday.
The Senate version of the bi-partisan
Child Nutrition legislation would update the nutrition standards consistent
with the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for all foods sold in schools; limit the sale
of junk food in schools; increase the federal reimbursement rate for school
lunches and provide more training to schools so they can serve more nutritious
meals; improve and simplify the application process; increase the use of foods
from local and regional sources; and support improved school nutrition and
physical activity wellness policies.
“This bill is a huge step
towards warding off some of today’s most life-threatening diseases by ensuring improved
nutrition and wellness among our nation’s youth,” said Georges C. Benjamin, MD,
FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. “No child should go hungry at
school or even face a future of chronic disease when there is something that
can be done to prevent it now.”
APHA commends Chairman
Lincoln (D-AK) and Senator Chambliss (R-GA) for their leadership and the entire
Senate for its commitment to make children’s health a priority and calls on the
House to take up the bill prior to September 30 as well.
For more about APHA, visit
www.apha.org.
# # #
Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health officials at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions. More information is available at www.apha.org.
|