Today, U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined with the Whatcom County Boys & Girls Club to call on George Miller, Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, to continue supporting a provision Larsen authored to fight childhood hunger. This provision, modeled after Larsen’s Ensuring All Students Year-round (EASY) Access to Meals and Snacks Act (HR 4274), will help low-income kids access nutritious food after school and during the summer months. Larsen’s language was included in the House child nutrition bill, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act (HR 5504), but was not included in the version of this bill that passed the Senate (S. 3307).
“Nearly one in six families in my Congressional district suffers from hunger. In these tough economic times, it is critical that we are making sure kids get enough to eat so they can perform better in school and avoid serious health problems down the road,” said Rep. Larsen. “This program will help local organizations, like the Whatcom County Boys and Girls Club, ensure low-income kids get nutritious food at the times when they are most vulnerable to hunger— during the summer, after school, and on weekends.”
“As a Boys & Girls Club that receives federal support to feed low income kids, we support the work done by our Congressman, Rick Larsen, to expand the Summer Food Service program to allow non-profit organizations to serve kids healthy meals and snacks throughout the year,” writes Lynn Templeton, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County. “This directly benefits the kids we serve here in Whatcom County, Washington.”
The text of the two letters, one from Rep. Larsen and one from the Whatcom County Boys & Girls Club, follows:
To: The Honorable George Miller
Dear Congressman Miller:
I am writing to thank you for your hard work on the child nutrition programs. Your work on behalf of kids, especially those who need us most, is deeply appreciated.
I understand that the Senate has passed a child nutrition reauthorization bill, and the House is working to pass its version.
As a Boys & Girls Club that receives federal support to feed low income kids, we support the work done by our Congressman, Rick Larsen, to expand the Summer Food Service program to allow non-profit organizations to serve kids healthy meals and snacks throughout the year. This directly benefits the kids we serve here in Whatcom County, Washington. Last year we served over 49,000 meals as part of our food service program at our five Branch Clubs.
I hope that you will support retaining this provision as you work to enact a child nutrition bill into law this year.
Thank you for your consideration, and thanks for what you do for America.
With respect and gratitude,
Lynn James Templeton
Executive Director/CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County
September 22, 2010
The Honorable George Miller
Chairman, House Committee on Education and Labor
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairman Miller:
Thank you for your efforts to pass a comprehensive child nutrition bill. As you continue to work to reconcile the House and Senate versions of this legislation, I urge you to attempt to retain Section 113 of the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act (HR 5504), which will help kids get enough to eat during times when they are most vulnerable to hunger – after school, the summer, weekends, and holidays.
As you know, Section 113 is based on legislation I introduced earlier this year to expand the highly successful “Miller Pilot” currently operating in California. It will allow non-profit organizations in California and nine additional states to serve meals 365 days a year through the Summer Food Service Program, reducing paperwork requirements and administrative costs and allowing these providers to focus on delivering quality foods and programming for kids.
I have enclosed a letter to you from the Whatcom County Boys and Girls Club in my district. As a provider of nearly 50,000 meals each year to low-income children, they are a great advocate for the value of expanding the Miller Pilot.
Thank you for your consideration of my views. I look forward to working with you to pass a comprehensive child nutrition bill in the near future.
Best,
Rick Larsen
United States Representative
Washington State, 2nd Congressional District
