Judy Chu: “How could the wealthiest country in the world have a situation where 22 percent of its children are hungry? Children…”

“How could the wealthiest country in the world have a situation where 22 percent of its children are hungry? Children like Michael, a fourth-grader. His mom works two jobs, and it's hard for her to cook, so Michael stuffs three sandwiches in his backpack during lunch, making the school lunch program his only guaranteed meal. This bill will make it easier for more children like him to have at least one healthy meal a day. Kids who are fed aren't just healthier; they succeed. Children who eat breakfast at school do better on standardized tests than those who skip it or eat at home. But that's not all. We heard some school districts are balancing their budgets by using school lunch dollars for other purposes. So I introduced a bill to ensure Federal nutrition money actually goes toward feeding our needy children--it is included here--ensuring that our tax dollars go where they are supposed to. This bill was unanimously passed in the Senate and is fully paid for. Let's pass this bill, and let's ensure that our kids are fed.”