Lynn C. Woolsey: “Mr. Speaker, I know personally the fear of not having enough money to buy food for my children. Twenty-seven years ago I…”

“Mr. Speaker, I know personally the fear of not having enough money to buy food for my children. Twenty-seven years ago I was a single working mother with three small children forced to rely on Aid For Dependent Children and food stamps in order to give my children the health care, child care and food they needed. That experience never leaves me, Mr. Speaker. It is the basis for my commitment to make sure that every child enters the classroom safe, healthy and ready to learn, and without nutrition programs this will not be possible. That is why I am shocked that at the same time Republicans are talking about taking school lunches away from almost 7,000 children in my congressional district, Mr. Speaker, they are refusing to cut pork barrel military projects like the F-22 fighter plane. Health care providers, parents and teachers all know that the school lunch program is crucial to our children's education and to their health. Clearly, Mr. Speaker, eliminating Federal school meal programs, cutting funds and giving what is left over to the States is no way to take care of our children.”