ALEXANDRIA, VA. – Today, the House of Representatives passed S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, by a vote of 264-157. The reasonable, common sense measures included in this bill will allow child nutrition programs and school foods to enter the 21st century.
“This legislation is a tremendous step forward in the ongoing effort to protect and preserve the health and well-being of our nation’s youth,” says Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President. “At a time when one third of our nation’s children are either overweight or obese and one fourth are at risk of hunger, the National PTA applauds Congress for passing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and helping us in our ongoing efforts to make every child’s potential a reality.”
The bill increases access to vital anti-hunger measures, improves the nutrition quality of all foods served in schools throughout the school day, and provides a wide variety of supports necessary for school food service workers to meet the needs of American children. For additional information on the specific provisions in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, please see PTA’s fact sheet on the bill.
National PTA, the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association, has worked to improve child health outcomes since its inception in 1897. These efforts have led to the creations of the U.S. Public Health Service, the school lunch program, and the Department of Health and Human Services at the federal level. In addition, we have consistently provided a platform for parents to advocate for children and work together to support generations of Americans.
