Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. BENNET. Madam President, I am thrilled that today the Senate has passed what must be a top Senate priority every day: the health and well being of our children.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act reauthorizes child nutrition programs before they expire on September 30. This bipartisan, completely paid-for legislation will make the most historic investment in child nutrition programs since their inception. And I am proud to support this bill.

At a time when childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing and child poverty is increasing, this bill couldn't be more important. For kids to be successful in the classroom they must be well nourished--kids who eat right, learn better.

More than 390,000 Colorado kids and millions more nationwide--rely on school meals, and this bill will make sure that those meals--and other foods kids have access to while at school--are nutritious and healthy. And that is just one example of the important investments this bill makes.

Coloradans know the value of healthy living--perhaps that is one reason why my State is the fittest State in the Union--but we too are struggling with rapidly increasing obesity rates, particularly among children.

Colorado is tackling the concurrent problems of child hunger and childhood obesity head-on with a State-led effort of ending childhood hunger by 2015 and a roadmap to do it. Simultaneously Colorado has school districts and communities that are leading the Nation in piloting innovative models that put healthy eating and active living at the top of their priority list.

I am thrilled that the bill we passed today builds on and supports the work that my State is already doing, while challenging Colorado and other States to go even further, to eliminate childhood hunger, to tackle childhood obesity, to emphasize wellness, and to build a healthy foundation for all kids.

Chairman LINCOLN, Ranking Member Chambliss, thank you for your leadership and diligent work on this historic bill. Passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is an example of the Senate doing exactly what it should--delivering for our kids.

Madam President, I yield the floor.

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