Tom Harkin: “I am pleased that the Budget Committee reported out a budget resolution that provided $232 million for the Senate…”

“I am pleased that the Budget Committee reported out a budget resolution that provided $232 million for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to enable the extension of several expiring provisions of child nutrition law. This was the amount that Agriculture Committee Chairman Cochran and I noted in our letter to the Budget Committee would, at a minimum, be necessary to ensure that children who qualify for benefits under current law would not lose them. However, more is clearly needed. Given the nutritional risks to American children today and the numerous unmet needs that exist in Federal child nutrition programs, I commend Senators Dole and Leahy for their bipartisan effort to provide additional funding for federal child nutrition programs. If these additional funds remain in the conference report, they will help the Senate Agriculture Committee to take important steps in pending child nutrition legislation. The need for additional funds is significant, including, for instance, the expansion the Summer Food Service Program and the fruit and vegetable pilot projects, lowering area eligibility for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, helping children who still face financial barriers to participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, and improving the entire nutritional environment in American schools.”