HR0594 LRB093 14754 MKM 40303 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The National School Lunch Program is open to all
3 children enrolled in participating schools and approximately
4 95% of public schools participate; and
 
5     WHEREAS, During the 2001-2002 school year, more than 27.4
6 million children in more than 97,000 schools and residential
7 child care institutions participated in the National School
8 Lunch Program; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Although the National School Lunch Program
10 strives to offer children a balanced and nutritional meal every
11 day, over the last twenty years, rates of obesity have doubled
12 in children and have tripled in adolescents, prompting concerns
13 that the program should be updated to provide even more
14 nutritional awareness; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Good nutrition is important to the academic
16 performance and success of every child; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
19 urge Congress to strengthen and improve the Child Nutrition
20 Program and the National School Lunch Program by adding a
21 State-level infrastructure and networking component to the
22 Team Nutrition program by increasing the State Administrative
23 Expense Formula and dedicating a portion of that increase to
24 nutrition education; and be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to maintain current funding
26 levels for existing Team Nutrition program components and to
27 give the United States Department of Agriculture more
28 flexibility to spend those resources; and be it further
 
29     RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to provide annual grants to

 

 

HR0594 - 2 - LRB093 14754 MKM 40303 r

1 states or school districts for a "Health Foods for Healthy Kids
2 Initiative" for educational and promotional materials, salad
3 bars and other healthier lunch options, innovative vending
4 options, and other creative ways to help schools provide and
5 encourage children to consume more fruits and vegetables; and
6 be it further
 
7     RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to provide grants to states
8 to train localities on the School Meals Initiative in order to
9 help schools improve the nutritional quality of meals,
10 increase, fruits and vegetables, reduce saturated fat, and
11 improve the school nutrition environment; and be it further
 
12     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
13 presented to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,
14 the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, and each member
15 of the Illinois congressional delegation.