Lynn C. Woolsey: “Mr. Speaker, it gives me such great pleasure to rise in support of H.R. 3874, the William F. Goodling Child Nutrition…”

“Mr. Speaker, it gives me such great pleasure to rise in support of H.R. 3874, the William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998. This legislation will benefit children in schools and child care facilities across our Nation. Our teens will be safer because it will be easier for schools and community organizations to offer them after-school programs. Elementary students are going to enter the classroom ready to learn and able to do better work in school because this legislation takes an important first step towards making breakfast available at school for all elementary school children. H.R. 3874 will allow 5 states to provide school breakfasts to all their students free of charge. Two studies have proven that kids who eat breakfast improve both their grades and their school behavior. In today's world, where two working parents are the norm and long commutes common, more and more families are out the door, on the road, early in the morning, with no time to sit down for breakfast. Whether we like it or not, children, even when they have food at home, leave their home and arrive at school hungry.”