Rokita, House Education Committee Assess Child Nutrition

Statement

Rep. Todd Rokita, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, is participating in a hearing this morning to examine federal child nutrition programs, which are due to be reauthorized by Congress later this year. The hearing will give the committee an opportunity to hear directly from school nutrition stakeholders about the current state of federal child nutrition programs.

"As federal intervention in school lunchrooms has increased, so has the amount of food that ends up in cafeteria garbage cans. These regulations are also so expensive that food service directors have expressed concern about being able to meet the needs of students while keeping their programs financially afloat. I have visited several schools myself and have heard from students, food service directors, and administrators on the need for fewer regulations," Rokita said.

Rokita continued, "One-size-fits-all federal rules and mandates for school lunches are a recipe for disaster. I want to ensure that nutrition programs can continue serving students and families that need it most. This hearing is the first step in that process."

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