Russ Feingold: “today I join Senator Kohl in introducing the Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act as part of my continued…”

“today I join Senator Kohl in introducing the Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act as part of my continued efforts to improve our nation's schools. I am pleased to be working with the senior Senator from Wisconsin, who has been a longtime leader in this area. As far back as 1999, he has sponsored legislation to support breakfast programs, and he has continued his support through his work on the Agriculture Appropriations Committee since then. One often overlooked part of student classroom performance is nutrition and hunger, which can have a tremendous impact on students. I know many of my colleagues share my support for school programs that help alleviate hunger for the most in-need students, such as the Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program, as well as those programs that provide healthier food, such as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack and Farm-to-Cafeteria programs. I am sure that I am not the only member of this body who grew up hearing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When I talk to my colleagues and constituents about our proposal and the importance of breakfast and learning, it is not a hard sell. People understand immediately why this issue matters. Unfortunately, too many children go hungry and too many parents have to choose between giving their children lunch or breakfast, even if they get the help of reduced price meals.”