Gregorio Sablan: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5012, the Weekends Without Hunger Act, legislation to help us prevent…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5012, the Weekends Without Hunger Act, legislation to help us prevent school-aged children from having to go hungry during weekends and breaks when they are not in school. The Weekends Without Hunger Act helps prevent children from going hungry when they are not in school. The bill responds to the growing challenge of children coming to school hungry on Mondays and after extended holidays. It establishes a 5-year pilot program to provide commodities to schools and food banks in low-income areas, to provide nutritious food to at-risk school children to take home on weekends and during school holidays. Nearly one in four of our Nation's children are at risk of going hungry every day. No child should go hungry, yet millions of families struggle to make ends meet and put healthy food on the table at home. More than 19 million school-age children eat a free or reduced-price meal at school every day and many of them depend on the school meals as their main source of food throughout the week. During days that school is in session, school breakfasts and lunches help keep children healthy and prepared to learn in the classroom. Children who experience hunger get sick more often and exhibit decreased attention and test scores.”