Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, the legislation before us includes many important improvements to the child nutrition programs that millions of our nation's children rely on for daily nutrition. As a result of this bill, it will be easier for children in low-income families to get the meals they need. Just as important, the meals they get will be healthier. The provisions included in the bill have important ramifications for Latino children in particular. Latino children currently make up more than one in five children in the U.S. and are the fastest-growing segment of the child population. Latino children are also the hungriest in America--making up almost 40 percent of the children struggling against hunger. They are more than four times as likely as white children to be food insecure and hungry. Ironically, they also have one of the highest risks for obesity. Latino families often experience barriers to participation in federal programs based on language access issues. The number of children who speak English as a second language has grown over the years and families who struggle with English proficiency are now located in many parts of the country where there is no mechanism in place to meet their language access needs. School districts in these areas need guidance and support to help them communicate effectively with parents who do not speak English fluently.…”