WHEREAS:

AFSCME represents workers in child care and Head Start, school food service workers, and staff of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program who help to ensure that America’s children and families have access to healthy meals and snacks; and

WHEREAS: 
Federal Child Nutrition programs, spanning school meals -- including breakfast, lunch, afterschool suppers and summer meals for at-risk students -- the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the WIC program are being reviewed by Congress to improve the programs and ensure better nutrition and access; and

WHEREAS:
Good nutrition is critically important for everyone and particularly important for pregnant women and children ages 0-5 while their brains are rapidly developing; and it’s the first line of defense to prevent obesity and to promote good eating habits; and

WHEREAS:
The harsh effects of our nation’s troubled economy have caused a spike in childhood hunger and food insecurity and nearly one in every four children today is struggling with hunger according to a recent report from the United States Department of Agriculture; and 

WHEREAS:
The CACFP is a federal nutrition program that promotes high-quality, affordable child care by helping care providers to serve nutritious meals and snacks. It provides reimbursement for food, meal preparation, training and administration costs, and is a vital source of support for child care centers, family child care homes, and Head Start programs; and

WHEREAS:
CACFP provides high-quality nutrition to nearly three million children each working day, helping low-income children receive the nutrients they need to grow; and 
 
WHEREAS:
School lunch programs provide a nutritious meal for more than 31 million children each day, and nearly 20 million of these children receive free or reduced-price meals; and

WHEREAS:
WIC serves more than 9 million women, infants, and children by providing nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to health and other social services; and

WHEREAS:
With rising food costs and a difficult economy, many child care providers, parents, and schools are struggling to provide nutritious meals; and

WHEREAS:
Program improvements and significant resources, including increases of at least $1 billion each year, are critical for child nutrition programs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME calls upon Congress to make necessary improvements contained in “The Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act of 2009,” include such improvements in Child Nutrition Reauthorization and invest an additional $1 billion each year over 10 years in child nutrition programs overall.
 
SUBMITTED BY: John A. Lyall, President and Delegate
Cenia Willis, Recording Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Council 8
Ohio