Eva M. Clayton: “the Republicans say that really they are not cutting nutrition programs, and I do not intend to suggest that they mean…”

“the Republicans say that really they are not cutting nutrition programs, and I do not intend to suggest that they mean to cut and suggest they are not cutting. We are probably looking at this in different ways. I would think that the emphasis ought to be placed on will they serve more children in the long run or will they serve less? Is the current policy being enforced or will they indeed have a new policy which may yield more money but serve less people? Let me say, Mr. Speaker, that wedding oneself to entitlement certainly is not wedding oneself to invest in our future. Wedding oneself to entitlement is not the same as saying children are our most precious commodity. And entitlements as to some of the basic necessities as food and shelter and health seems to be consistent with what democracy is all about, not necessarily wedding them to be on the dole. I would argue for consistency in terms of America and reaching out to help those least among us as reaching out to help those who are most affluent. It was indeed President Kennedy who said, and I agree, that if this Nation cannot respond to the many who are poor, certainly this Nation cannot defend the few who are rich. That is true, Mr. Speaker. What are those myths they are saying? They are saying, well, there is going to be more food indeed for school lunches. I would submit, indeed they are cutting. In fact, the chart we have here indicates surely that they are cutting as a whole.…”