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A NATIONAL PRIORITY: 

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD NUTRITION 

PROGRAMS TO OUR NATION’S 

HEALTH, ECONOMY AND NATIONAL SECURITY 

HEARING 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, 

NUTRITION AND FORESTRY 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS 

SECOND SESSION 

JUNE 12, 2014 

Printed for the use of the 

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry 

( 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.fdsys.gov/ 

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY 

DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan, Chairwoman 

PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont 

TOM HARKIN, Iowa 

SHERROD BROWN, OHIO 

AMY KLOBUCHAR, MINNESOTA 

MICHAEL BENNET, COLORADO 

KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, NEW YORK 

JOE DONNELLY, INDIANA 

HEIDI HEITKAMP, NORTH DAKOTA 

ROBERT P. CASEY, Jr., PENNSYLVANIA 

JOHN WALSH, MONTANA 

THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi 

MITCH MCCONNELL, Kentucky 

PAT ROBERTS, Kansas 

SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota 

MIKE JOHANNS, Nebraska 

CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa 

JOHN THUNE, South Dakota 

CHRISTOPHER J. ADAMO, Majority Staff Director 

JONATHAN J. CORDONE, Majority Chief Counsel 

JESSICA L. WILLIAMS, Chief Clerk 

THOMAS ALLEN HAWKS, Minority Staff Director 

ANNE C. HAZLETT, Minority Chief Counsel and Senior Advisor 

(II) 

(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

HEARING(S): 

A National Priority: The Importance of Child Nutrition Programs to Our 

Nation’s Health, Economy, and National Security ............................................ 1 

Thursday, June 12, 2014 

STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY SENATORS 

Stabenow, Hon. Debbie, U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan, Chairwoman, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry ............................ 1 

Gillibrand, Hon. Kirsten E., U.S. Senator from the State of New York ............. 2 

Witnesses 

Hawley, General Richard E., United States Air Force (Ret.), Mission: Readiness, Newport News, Virginia ............................................................................. 4 

Thornton, Otha, President, National Parent Teacher Association, Fort Stewart, Georgia ........................................................................................................... 6 

Cook, Stephen R., M.D., Physician, Associate Professor, School of Medicine 

and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical School, Rochester, New 

York ....................................................................................................................... 7 

Stanislaus, Yolanda, Principal, Francis Scott Key Middle School, Silver 

Spring, Maryland ................................................................................................. 9 

APPENDIX 

PREPARED STATEMENTS: 

Casey, Hon. Robert, Jr. .................................................................................... 30 

Cochran, Hon. Thad ......................................................................................... 31 

Leahy, Hon. Patrick J. ..................................................................................... 33 

Cook, Stephen R. .............................................................................................. 35 

Hawley, Richard ............................................................................................... 40 

Stanislaus, Yolanda .......................................................................................... 44 

Thornton, Otha, Jr. .......................................................................................... 46 

DOCUMENT(S) SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD: 

Stabenow, Hon. Debbie: 

‘‘A National Priority: The Importance of Child Nutrition Programs to 

our Nation’s Health, Economy and National Security′′, Hon. Martin 

O’Malley, State of Maryland, Office of the Governor ................................. 50 

National Education Association, prepared statement ................................... 52 

QUESTION AND ANSWER: 

Stephen Cook: 

Written response to questions from Hon. Debbie Stabenow ......................... 56 

Written response to questions from Hon. Patrick J. Leahy .......................... 59 

Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar ........................... 59 

Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet ........................... 60 

Written response to questions from Hon. Robert Casey, Jr. ......................... 63 

Hawley, Richard: 

Written response to questions from Hon. Debbie Stabenow ......................... 66 

Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet ........................... 66 

Written response to questions from Hon. Robert Casey, Jr. ......................... 68 

Page

IV 

Hawley, Richard—Continued 

Written response to questions from Hon. John Boozman ............................. 70 

Stanislaus, Yolanda: 

Written response to questions from Hon. Debbie Stabenow ......................... 71 

Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar ........................... 71 

Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet ........................... 72 

Written response to questions from Hon. Robert Casey, Jr. ......................... 73 

Thornton, Otha, Jr.: 

Written response to questions from Hon. Debbie Stabenow ......................... 75 

Written response to questions from Hon. Patrick J. Leahy .......................... 75 

Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar ........................... 76 

Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet ........................... 77 

Written response to questions from Hon. Robert Casey, Jr. ......................... 79 

(1) 

A NATIONAL PRIORITY: 

THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD NUTRITION 

PROGRAMS TO OUR NATION’S 

HEALTH, ECONOMY, AND NATIONAL 

SECURITY 

Thursday, June 12, 2014 

UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY, Washington, DC 

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:07 a.m., in room 

328A, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Debbie Stabenow, 

Chairwoman of the committee, presiding. Present or submitting a statement: Senators Stabenow, Brown, Klobuchar, Gillibrand, Donnelly, Casey, Boozman, and Thune. 

STATEMENT OF HON. DEBBIE STABENOW, U.S. SENATOR 

FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, CHAIRWOMAN, COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION AND FORESTRY 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Well, good morning. The committee meeting will come to order. We are so pleased that all of you are 

here today. 

I want to welcome everyone to the committee’s first hearing as 

we begin the process of reauthorizing Child Nutrition Programs. 

These conversations could not come at a more critical time. Today, 

more than 16 million children in this country do not have enough 

to eat. At the same time, childhood obesity rates have tripled over 

the past 30 years. Something is wrong with this picture. 

These trends are not just a threat to the health of America’s 

young people, they are a threat to the future of our national security, and we want to talk about that today. For generations, the 

U.S. military has depended on the strength and courage of young 

Americans to form the world’s most elite fighting force. Our military leaders recognize this, and historically, when they have asked 

Congress for help, we have responded. 

Near the end of World War II, General Lewis Hershey came before the Congress to explain that malnutrition and underfeeding 

were to blame for recruits being rejected for service in the Armed 

Forces. In response to the General’s concerns, Congress launched 

the National School Lunch Program, calling it a measure of national security. 

Today, as we will hear, our military leaders have a similar request for Congress, and it is the same request we will hear from 

pediatricians and school leaders and parents. They ask that we 

2 

protect and strengthen school nutrition programs so that we can 

strengthen our nation’s military preparedness and improve the 

long-term health of the next generation of Americans. 

This request has even more urgency today than it had 70 years 

ago. That is because roughly 27 percent of Americans between the 

ages of 17 and 24 are too overweight to serve in the military. The 

proportion of new recruits who failed physical exams during the 

past 13 years rose by nearly 70 percent. 

Childhood obesity and weight-related diseases weaken our nation’s financial security, as well. It is estimated that the nation 

spends about $14 billion a year to treat obesity and preventable 

weight-related diseases in children alone, not counting adults. Yet, 

for 14 cents, we can give a child an apple in school. Fourteen billion a year or 14 cents. That reminds me of what Benjamin Franklin once said. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. 

These are the critical types of investments that we can make 

now to save billions down the road, reducing many of the high costs 

associated with treating preventable diseases, like Type 2 diabetes, 

hypertension, and liver disease. 

In the classroom, a school breakfast can spur a lifetime of learning and achievement. We know that children who receive a healthy 

breakfast are likely to have better math scores and are less likely 

to be absent from class. For many children, a healthy lunch can 

form the foundation for a lifetime of good health. Making sure children have healthy, nutritious food will mean they can focus on 

what is important—learning, growing, and ultimately becoming 

productive and successful in future years. 

While it is often easy to think of programs in terms of a sixmonth budget or the annual appropriations, this hearing is really 

about the big picture. School breakfasts and school lunch are key 

components of child nutrition, but it is also important to remember 

that child nutrition is also about wellness policies, it is about 

WIC—Women, Infants, and Children’s Programs, it is about Farm 

to School efforts, and day care. It is about reducing hunger for children after school and during the summer months. 

The authorization of Child Nutrition Programs is important. Investing in our children’s nutritional health is not only about the 

cost of a meal, it is about investing in our nation’s future and our 

most critical priorities: Stronger national security, long-term economic strength, educational success, and the health and happy 

lives of our families. 

I am pleased we have a great panel of witnesses today with us 

who can discuss the big picture impact of investing in the health 

of our children. We welcome everyone today. 

Our Ranking Member is not able to be with us. I know we will 

be joined by others as we proceed. If either of my colleagues want 

to make a brief comment, we would be happy to have it. Otherwise, 

we will go to our witnesses. 

Senator Gillibrand. 

STATEMENT OF HON. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, U.S. SENATOR 

FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Senator GILLIBRAND. I have a statement to introduce one of our 

witnesses. Is that all right? 

3 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Absolutely. I will let you proceed. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Okay. Well, I would like to introduce Dr. 

Stephen Cook. He is trained in pediatrics and adult internal medicine. He currently serves as an attending physician at the Golisano 

Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center. 

Dr. Cook has served as a member of my Healthy Children’s 

Working Group and he has shared his research with us on child 

and adolescent obesity and his work has been a resource to me as 

I have developed my legislative agenda with respect to children’s 

health. 

Dr. Cook’s research focuses on children and childhood and adolescent obesity by examining cardiovascular risk factors in clinical 

studies on prevention intervention. Dr. Cook has been an integral 

part of the Greater Rochester Obesity Collaborative, which serves 

as a national model for obesity prevention and treatment. The 

Rochester team was among ten teams chosen to participate in the 

Healthy Weight Collaborative, which is aimed at curbing the obesity rate in the U.S. 

Dr. Cook received his M.D. from SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine and completed his residency and a chief resident year in Buffalo, New York. He has completed an academic pediatric fellowship, 

during which he focused on research in clinical aspects on nutrition, physical activity, obesity, and metabolic complications that 

arise. 

Dr. Cook has received a number of medical and research awards 

and honors and has been recognized by the American Heart Association for being the National Science Advocate of the Year in 2011. 

He currently serves on the Governor’s Anti-Hunger Task Force in 

New York State as well as the Chairman and Membership Committee for the Obesity Society. 

We welcome him to the Senate Agriculture Committee today and 

we look forward to his testimony. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much, Senator Gillibrand—— 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. —and thank you for your advocacy and 

leadership. We are very fortunate to have both Senator Brown and 

Senator Gillibrand, who are strong advocates for the Child Nutrition Programs, and I look forward to working with you in partnership as we proceed to reauthorize in the coming year. 

Let me proceed with our other witnesses. I am so pleased to introduce our first witness on the panel, General Richard Hawley, a 

retired four-star general in the Air Force who serves on the Executive Advisory Council on Mission: Readiness, Military Leaders for 

Kids, which is a nonprofit, nonpartisan national security organization of hundreds of retired military officers committed to strengthening future generations through smart policy. 

During General Hawley’s military career, he served in a variety 

of command and staff positions in the United States and overseas. 

He commanded a group, wing, Numbered Air Force, and two major 

commands. His assignments as a flag staff officer included duty as 

the Air Force Director of Operations during the First Gulf War, 

Commander of U.S. Forces Japan, and Fifth Air Force, Principal 

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, and 

4 

Commander United States Air Force in Europe and Allied Air 

Forces Central. We welcome you. 

Our second witness is Mr. Otha Thornton, President of the National Parent Teacher Association, who is also a Senior Operations 

Analyst with General Dynamics in Fort Stewart, Georgia. Mr. 

Thornton is a retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel, and 

his last two assignments were with the White House Communications Agency and United States Forces Iraq and Baghdad. Mr. 

Thornton earned the Bronze Star Medal for exceptional performance in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 

2009–2010. As a PTA leader, Mr. Thornton’s military background 

has allowed him to volunteer throughout the country and the world 

at various State, local, and council levels, and we are so pleased 

to have you with us. 

Let me now turn to Ms. Yolanda Stanislaus—we are so pleased 

to have you—who is the Principal of Francis Scott Key Middle 

School in Silver Spring, Maryland. She is an educator for 21 years, 

starting her career as a high school earth science and chemistry 

teacher in New York City Public Schools. She also taught at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and served as teacher and assistant principal at Silver Spring International Middle School. Prior to 

becoming Principal at Francis Scott Key, she was Principal of Galway Elementary School. 

Ms. Stanislaus has spent several years in the Montgomery County Public School System, and the Montgomery County Schools participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. In 

addition to providing meals, the schools participate in other 

healthy food and hunger mitigation programs, including After 

School Snack, Summer Meals, and Farm to School activities. 

We are so pleased to have all of you here with your experiences 

and expertise to share with us. I would remind you, we are asking 

for five minutes’ worth of testimony. We are very happy to accept 

whatever you would like to give us in writing, as well. 

We will start with General Hawley. Welcome. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL RICHARD E. HAWLEY, UNITED 

STATES AIR FORCE (RET.), MISSION: READINESS, NEWPORT 

NEWS, VIRGINIA 

General HAWLEY. Well, thank you, Chairwoman Stabenow and 

members of the committee. First of all, thanks for holding this 

hearing and for including me. I appreciate the opportunity to join 

and give our perspective as a retired military flag. 

It may seem odd to some here that a retired general officer 

would be here talking about childhood nutrition, not exactly our 

line of expertise. But, as the Chairwoman pointed out, the National 

School Lunch Program was established in 1946, in large measure 

in response to our experiences during World War II, when we discovered that of those who were not qualified for military service, 

about 40 percent of those were malnourished. The Congress took 

action, established the School Lunch Program, and it has had a 

great effect on the health of our potential recruits upon who we depend to defend the nation. 

Unfortunately, 70 years later, nutrition remains a national problem and a problem for our military, but the pendulum has swung 

5 

a little and the issue is now we have too many children and candidate recruits who are obese or overweight and, hence, unfit to 

perform the service that we require for our nation in the military. 

About 75 percent of young Americans today are unfit for military 

service, and that is a tragic figure. As the Chairwoman pointed out, 

more than one in five of our youth are too fat, overweight, obese, 

to meet the demands of military service. Others cannot meet the 

educational requirements or have a criminal background which disqualifies them. 

Just to put a number on this, for the six years from 2006 to 

2011, young men and women were denied enlistment at the rate 

of 62,000. Sixty-two-thousand young Americans during that period 

who could not qualify for military service because of their weight. 

Just to put a little easier number on it, that would man about 30 

Air Force combat wings. It is an astounding figure and one that demands action. 

Twelve-hundred first-term enlistees are discharged every year 

because of weight problems, 1,200. The military has to then go out 

and recruit and train replacements. I do not know how this adds 

up to the 14-cent apple, Chairwoman, but it is $90 million a year 

that we spend to recruit and train those replacements. That would 

buy a lot of apples. 

DOD spends another $1.1 billion each year to treat obesity-related illnesses through our military medicine and TRICARE programs. 

The military is responding to these problems. They have 

launched a number of initiatives to deal with the issues, but they 

need help, and that is why the school nutrition environment is so 

important. A child who is overweight in his preteen years has an 

80 percent chance of being obese by age 25, and those are the ones 

who cannot meet the requirements for military service. 

In 2010, our group released a report, ‘‘Too Fat to Fight,’’ and another in 2012, ‘‘Still Too Fat to Fight,’’ and they examine how obesity affects our military and highlight the need for standards in our 

School Lunch Program. When ‘‘Too Fat to Fight’’ was released in 

2010, our children were consuming way too many junk food calories, the equivalent of two billion candy bars a year. By the way, 

two billion candy bars weighs more than the Aircraft Carrier Midway. 

But, the revised standards that this committee endorsed in 2010 

are beginning to show results. The steady upward march in rates 

of obesity is slowing, and in some age groups has been reversed. 

Cultural change does not happen quickly, but if given time to work 

their magic, the changes set forth in 2010 will give us a stronger 

military in 2030 and a healthier nation, as well. 

On behalf of the 450 generals and admirals of Mission: Readiness, I thank you for this opportunity to highlight the link between 

childhood nutrition and national security. We look forward to working with the committee as you continue this important work. 

Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of General Hawley can be found on 

page XX in the appendix.] 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much for that testimony. 

6 

Mr. Thornton, welcome again. 

STATEMENT OF OTHA THORNTON, JR., PRESIDENT, NATIONAL 

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION, FORT STEWART, GEORGIA 

Mr. THORNTON. Chairman Stabenow, committee members, and 

my fellow distinguished panelists, I am honored to have the opportunity to speak before you on behalf of over four million members 

of the National Parent Teacher Association. With more than 24,000 

local units, PTA exists in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, 

Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Department of Defense Schools in Europe. 

I currently serve as President of the National PTA, an elected 

volunteer position that I assumed in June of last year. In addition 

to my involvement with National PTA, I have been active in State 

and local PTAs in Georgia, Maryland, Texas, Michigan, and 

Kaiserslautern, Germany. I am currently employed as a Senior Operations Analyst with General Dynamics at Fort Stewart, Georgia, 

and I am a retired Lieutenant Colonel. Most importantly, I have 

over two decades of experience as a father of my two wonderful 

children with my wife, Caryn, Candice and Tre. 

PTA was founded in 1897 and is the oldest and largest volunteer 

child advocacy organization in the United States. PTA’s legacy of 

influencing policy to protect the education, health, and overall wellbeing of children has made an indelible impact in the lives of millions of children and their families. This legacy includes the creation of kindergarten classes, a juvenile justice system, child labor 

laws, and mandatory immunizations for school children. Our mission is to be a powerful voice for every child. 

With regards to today’s hearing, one of the fundamental purposes 

of PTA is to preserve children’s health and protect them from 

harm. PTA has been at the table from the beginning, piloting a hot 

lunch program in schools in the 1920s that led to PTA’s advocacy 

for a National School Lunch Program, and each subsequent reauthorization of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. 

Most recently, the PTA and our coalition partners fought for the 

passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which has made significant updates to our nation’s Child Nutrition Programs. PTA 

viewed this as both a win for the kids and also the parents, because parents knew that, for the first time, no matter what our 

kids purchased in the cafeteria, it was going to be good for them. 

As for the primary decision makers in our kids’ lives, it also provided us as parents a stronger role through local wellness policy 

development, implementation, and evaluation. As I always say, if 

you are not at the table, you are on the menu. 

I mention these accomplishments not only to underscore PTA’s 

commitment to the well-being of our nation’s children, but also to 

provide a historical context for where we are today. We have made 

a commitment to our children for over 70 years to do the right 

thing in the cafeteria and we cannot turn our backs now. 

I know some of my fellow panelists will address the reality of our 

nation’s obesity crisis as it relates to our overall health and national security, so as a PTA leader and father, I am here today to 

tell you that our parents and families are committed to working toVerDate Nov 24 2008 17:33 Feb 23, 2015 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 C:\USERS\MW42035\DESKTOP\DOCS\93031.TXT MICAH
7 

gether to ensure the continued success of our nation’s Child Nutrition Programs. 

Where are we today? Schools are making exceptional progress in 

the nutritional quality of the meals that they are serving to our 

kids. There have been challenges along the way, but that is to be 

expected. We are parents, after all. When was the last time you 

changed rules for your kids in the interest of their well-being and 

your kids were happy about it? Do we have anyone here? 

As a partner in the school building, PTA and parents understand 

there are certain challenging realities. There is never enough time, 

seldom enough money, and oftentimes minimum resources, but 

that has never and can never be a free pass not to do the right 

thing for our kids. For parents, it means that we need to step up 

to the plate and support our schools, the board, the administration, 

the school food service, the teachers, the students to make sure 

that the school meals are successful. That means having a seat at 

the table and finding solutions to the challenges. 

Do we need updated kitchen equipment to serve fresh food? Well, 

how are we going to secure funding? Do we need volunteers so 

breakfast can be served in the classroom? Well, let us get some 

parents and grandparents together. Do we need to taste test some 

of the new items? How can we help? Do we need to adjust our 

fundraising practices? Let’s do this. 

One of the most common questions that we hear as we travel 

around the country is, will our kids have enough time to eat lunch? 

How can we solve this problem? We can do this together. It may 

take a little bit of time and a lot of effort, but we can do it. 

In closing, thank you for having me here for this testimony. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Thornton can be found on page 

XX in the appendix.] 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. 

Dr. Cook, welcome. 

STEPHEN R. COOK, M.D., ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, SCHOOL OF 

MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY, UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER 

MEDICAL SCHOOL, ROCHESTER, NEW YORK 

Dr. COOK. Thank you very much, Chairwoman Stabenow and distinguished members of the committee. I am both a pediatrician and 

adult internist from Upstate New York and an American Heart Association volunteer. 

The unintended benefit of my dual training is now being realized 

in the current childhood obesity epidemic. Today, I see young patients with Type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and fatty liver disease. 

These are conditions which I am familiar with as an internist 

treating adult patients, but my pediatric colleagues never saw before. In other words, our children are developing adult diseases accelerated by their poor diets and developing obesity. 

The statistics are grim. Today, one in three kids or teens are 

overweight or obese, nearly tripled from the 1960s. Hypertension, 

high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes are affecting children and adolescents at unprecedented levels. Not surprisingly, more than 90 percent of children meet none or only one of the five components the 

American Heart Association uses to define a healthy diet, such as 

eating more fruits and vegetables or more whole grains. 

8 

Beyond the toll and human suffering, obesity is associated with 

diseases with a steep price tag. The cost of treating obesity-related 

illnesses in the U.S. tripled just over a decade, from $78 billion in 

1998 to $270 billion in 2009. Let me tell you a story behind some 

of these statistics. 

I currently work in a pediatric practice at the Children’s Hospital 

at the University of Rochester and I am on the front line of the war 

against childhood obesity. Almost half the students in the Rochester City School District are considered overweight or obese, and 

nearly 80 percent of these students qualify for Free and Reduced 

Lunch, in many instances, that being the only healthy meal they 

receive all day. 

It was during my fellowship training in Rochester that I learned 

a very important lesson I would like to share with you. I learned 

that I, as a pediatrician, must care for children and families beyond 

the four walls of my office. I could provide life-saving vaccines or 

medications, but what good would it do if these very same children 

were doomed to a life of chronic disease and early death brought 

upon in part by unhealthy diets? 

On a positive note, I have seen firsthand how children’s eating 

and activity habits are established very early in life. It is a critical 

window when eating habits and healthy lifestyles are imprinted behaviorally and biologically. It provides a great, and, I would argue, 

unique opportunity for improving the health of our nation’s children, lowering medical costs, and improving productivity. 

I would like to illustrate the delicate balance of a small change 

and consistent change in the life of a child and how, if made correctly at the right times, allow for prevention and treatment really 

to overlap. A colleague of mine and I had a three-year-old patient 

who, during his annual check-up, was found to have a BMI in the 

obese range, actually, 97th percentile. She discussed with the 

child’s mother the boy’s beverage habits and drinking, and which 

the mom did not think was a problem until he returned for his 

four-year check-up in which he was still obese, now at the 98th percentile for age. They discussed cutting back on the sugary beverages along with instituting some behavior changes related to nutrition and his inactivity level. 

He came in for regular visits over the next two-and-a-half years 

and his weight continued to increase, but more slowly. Over his 

last two visits, his weight actually decreased by just over a pound. 

This was over seven months. But, by now, his BMI percentile was 

69th percentile for age, right where it should be, right in the normal change. 

These changes in behavior we discussed were not of a high intensity level, like a treatment level needed for older children or those 

more severely affected by obesity, but the consistent message as 

part of well child visits, with age-appropriate recommendations for 

nutrition, physical activity, screen time, and sleep. This is also a 

motivated parent who sought out resources, including ensuring her 

son attended a high-quality child care center that was moving to 

improve policies around meals and snacks. The patient is now on 

the right path for a healthy life. 

Programs authorized by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act set 

the stage for millions of children to also get a head start for a lifeVerDate Nov 24 2008 17:33 Feb 23, 2015 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 C:\USERS\MW42035\DESKTOP\DOCS\93031.TXT MICAH
9 

time of healthy habits. Based on solid clinical research, I urge the 

committee and Congress to continue the good work with school districts to prioritize Child Nutrition Programs. It is great up-front investment in our children and our nation’s future. To do less is unacceptable. 

I also believe that we cannot let perfect be the enemy of good. 

The USDA and schools can work through challenges while at the 

same time applying evidence-based strategies for altering the food 

environment and the presentation with minimal cost. 

Let me conclude by noting that the programs in child nutrition 

reauthorization play a critical role in improving the health of our 

nation’s children, their future, and our nation’s future. It is one of 

the many strategies that, while alone will not be enough, must be 

implemented to turn the tide on obesity and the many other chronic obesity-related conditions among America’s youth. The very lives 

of our children are at stake. Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Dr. Cook can be found on page XX 

in the appendix.] 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Well, thank you very much, Doctor, for 

that testimony. 

Principal Stanislaus, welcome. 

STATEMENT OF YOLANDA STANISLAUS, PRINCIPAL, FRANCIS 

SCOTT KEY MIDDLE SCHOOL, SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Welcome, and thank you for having me. Good 

morning, Chairwoman Stabenow and members of the committee, 

and thank you for this opportunity to share my experience and 

views on the importance of Child Nutrition Programs like School 

Breakfast and School Lunch. 

When I think about this issue of school nutrition from the perspective of a principal and parent of both a middle school and elementary-age child, the benefits of universal or Free and Reduced 

Meals Programs is obvious. In addition, I was a child of two working-class parents who worked tirelessly to clothe, feed, and nurture 

five children. As a child, I participated in the meal program at my 

school. I recall looking forward to going to school every day and 

wondering what was going to be served for breakfast and lunch. I 

can testify firsthand that the School Meal Program had a positive 

impact on my life and my learning. 

There are children in classrooms all over this nation, in cities, in 

suburbs, and in communities, who are coming to school extremely 

eager to learn. In order for students to learn at high levels, they 

must be prepared and ready to concentrate by starting their day 

off with a nutritious breakfast. 

The numbers show that one out of five school-age children struggle with hunger in this country. I can tell you that on a more personal note, I have 65 percent of my students who receive Free and 

Reduced Breakfast and Lunch daily, and they are still struggling 

with having enough to eat at home. I can also tell you that this 

makes it harder for them to learn. 

I am not alone. There are teachers and principals all over this 

country who will tell you the same thing. There are children in 

classrooms all over the nation, cities and suburbs, who are coming 

to school too hungry to learn. In some cases, the nutritious school 

10 

breakfast and lunch are the only meals the students have on a 

daily basis. 

Children who consistently do not get enough to eat tend to go to 

the nurse more often, have trouble focusing on lessons, which often 

result in off-task behavior and difficulties with sharing their best 

thinking on their tests. Research shows that students who do get 

enough nutrition on a daily basis feel better, learn more, develop 

good eating habits, and grow up stronger. 

We spend so much time and thought and money in this nation 

around educating our children. We ask questions like, how do we 

improve our test scores? How do we ensure that students graduate? 

There are some wonderful programs and innovations to educate our 

kids, but if they are too hungry to learn, we have lost them before 

we have begun. 

There are two really key times I see hunger as a widespread 

problem, in the mornings and after the summer and the start of 

the school year. For students of low-income families, their nutrition 

comes from school meals. Without school breakfast and lunch, 

these students would not get the nutrition they need. 

You can really see it in the morning. I have seen students come 

to school and they have not eaten since lunch the day before. They 

are irritable. They cannot focus. They are only able to think about 

where their next meal is coming from. I am grateful that my school 

has a universal Free Breakfast Program. This program enables all 

of my students to receive nutritious breakfast and start their day 

off right. 

Another danger time is over the summer vacation. Students do 

not get school meals when school is out of session. You can see a 

real difference at the start of the school year between students who 

had enough to eat over the breaks and those who struggled. The 

ones who may not have been getting consistent meals are more 

stressed out. They take longer to get into the swing of the school 

year. They have forgotten a lot of what they have learned the year 

before, and it makes a real difference with their progress. 

As a principal, I make it my duty to greet my students every 

morning. This is an opportunity for me to quickly gauge my students’ current social-emotional state. This particular morning, I noticed a student who appeared tired and unhappy. Before I could 

ask him what was wrong, he asked me, ‘‘Ms. Stanislaus, are we 

going to be getting breakfast this morning? I do not have any 

money.’’ I quickly reassured him that breakfast was waiting for 

him in his first period classroom. A sense of relief came over his 

face and he quickly proceeded into the building. This and many 

other stories similar to this one confirms for me how important it 

is that schools have a nutritious Breakfast and Lunch Program for 

students and how much they rely on them on a daily basis. 

I would like to share with you some current research conducted 

by the nonprofit organization, No Kid Hungry, and the consulting 

firm Deloitte. They analyzed the ways hunger affects a child’s ability to learn. Their research focused primarily on what happens 

when students from low-income families get the breakfast every 

day. Here are some of their findings. Their attendance rate went 

up. Tardiness and absences went down. On average, students 

scored 17.5 percent higher on math assessments. 

11 

Higher attendance and higher test scores are closely tied to graduation rates. Students who attend school regularly and receive better grades are 20 percent more likely to graduate from high school. 

This has a huge potential impact on their futures and ours. High 

school graduates are more likely to find better employment, make 

higher salaries, and become self-sufficient. 

I thank you for this time. Once again, I am the proud Principal 

of Francis Scott Key Middle School. 

[The prepared statement of Ms. Stanislaus can be found on page 

XX in the appendix.] 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Well, thank you so much. Thank you to 

each of you for your important testimony. 

First, let me start, General Hawley, with you. I know that, as 

you have said, since 2012, the Department of Defense has really 

expanded its efforts to combat obesity, and I think, as you indicated, as well, people would be surprised that we start this whole 

process of reauthorization talking about what is happening in our 

military and Department of Defense, but it is a very real, concrete 

example of what is happening in terms of obesity in our country. 

I know you are investing—the DOD is investing a lot of time and 

funding to prevent obesity. Could you talk a little bit more about 

those investments versus the amount of money being spent to treat 

obesity? 

General HAWLEY. I retired some years ago, so I cannot claim to 

be an expert on everything going on in DOD today, but I do know 

that they have instituted a number of trial programs—the Healthy 

Base Initiative, which includes all of the services—to institute programs to increase awareness of the problem among our soldiers, 

sailors, airmen, Marine, and Coast Guardsmen, because, as some 

of the testimony pointed out, sometimes people do not even understand what their diet is doing to them. 

They are doing things like color-coding items in the commissary 

and in the dining hall, dining facilities, red, green, yellow. The 

green says, hey, you can eat all that you want. It is good for you. 

It will help you be a better person in the military, a better soldier, 

sailor, airman. If it is yellow, well, maybe not so much. If it is red, 

hey, why do you not avoid that? That is full of sugar and that is 

not good for you. 

The Air Force, I know, has instituted a program recently on a 

trial basis that they hope to expand, Better Food, Better Body, 

again, trying to increase awareness among our airmen to let them 

know that, hey, your nutrition is important. It is going to affect 

how you perform. Of course, your performance is going to affect 

how well you do in your career in our service. 

There is a lot going on and I know it is going to expand because 

this is a very important item. 

The cost of those programs is insignificant compared to the cost 

of treating the problem. I think I cited the number $1.1 billion to 

treat obesity and overweight-related illnesses in our military medical system and the TRICARE program that supports people like 

me and others. It is—you cited 14 cents, I think, versus $14 billion. 

There is just no comparison. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Well, thank you. 

12 

Principal Stanislaus, could you talk a little bit about, as a principal, how your school is working to ensure that kids are receiving 

healthy breakfasts and healthy lunches. What kinds of things are 

you doing? 

Ms. STANISLAUS. We were fortunate enough this year to receive 

a grant from the State that allowed us to have a Free Breakfast 

Program for not only the 65 percent of our students who would receive a Free and Reduced Meals Breakfast, but for all students. It 

is—we already had in place what we called a Sustained Silent 

Reading in the morning, and once we received the Breakfast Program, we were able to bring the breakfast items into the first period classroom. Now we call it Books and Breakfast and it works 

out really nicely. 

The students—I have seen an increase in my attendance rate. I 

have seen—and I check it every week. We are certain to check if 

students are coming in on time and are there at school and ready 

to learn. We have seen some great increases. 

Another partnership that I formed was a partnership with the 

University of Maryland at my former school, where they would 

come in and actually have lessons with the students on the importance of nutrition. 

I really think that it starts with the advocacy of the principal 

and tapping into the resources. I work very, very closely with our 

Food Services Director and our program in my county and I am 

consistently asking for opportunities for my students and my community. We were selected for this summer, one of 12 schools to receive a Summer Lunch Program. Not only will my students benefit, 

but students who live in that community up to age 18 are welcome 

to come to my school for a free lunch. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you. 

One more question here before my time is up. Mr. Thornton, 

could you talk from the parent standpoint about working together 

to make the school programs a success, a little bit more about how 

you see parents in the involvement. 

Mr. THORNTON. Madame Chairwoman, first of all, we believe, 

and we really push for a solid wellness policy around our school 

systems. PTA uses six standards for effective school partnerships 

in working on issues such as nutrition. One, welcoming all families 

into the school and communicating effectively around these particular programs are two of the standards. 

Just to give you an example, at home we understand the importance of the family meal. Sometimes, families do not have the time 

to properly plan and we understand that. One of the tools that we 

have is a partnership with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation to provide grants to a lot of local PTA units around the 

country to help parents work on nutrition and educate them on nutrition within the schools. What does a healthy plate look like? 

What does a healthy grocery shopping trip look like? Those are 

some of the grants we’ve provided to assist our parents; one of the 

strategies that we use. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. 

Senator Brown. 

Senator BROWN. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

13 

I thank you all for your testimony. It was terrific. Thank you for 

that. 

I want to make three quick comments before I get to my questions. First, I really appreciate General Hawley’s comment and 

Chairwoman Stabenow’s comment about the National School 

Lunch Program, created after World War II in response to far too 

many recruits being malnourished. I think it is always important 

to put anything this government does in historical context because 

it teaches us for the future, so thank you for that. 

I wanted to mention, in Ohio, ProMedica, a health care provider 

in Northwest Ohio, out of Toledo, and provides also in Southeast 

Michigan, as the Chairwoman knows, announced a plan to reduce 

hunger and improve childhood nutrition. They view ending hunger 

not just as the moral issue that all of you view it as, I think, but 

also as one of the most important ways to lower health care costs. 

The third point I wanted to make before directing some questions 

to Ms. Stanislaus is the Summer Feeding Program in my State, we 

have about 600,000 students every day that—in any single day, on 

the average, and getting the School Free or Reduced Breakfast or 

Lunch Program, 600,000 during the school year. In the summer, 

and we are maybe slightly above the national average, only about 

60,000 students on any single day are participating in the Summer 

Feeding Program. You think of the difference there, 600,000 in a 

particular day in March or April, and in July and August, it is onetenth of that, and what that says about what we are doing, where 

we need to go. 

My questions are for Ms. Stanislaus. I would first say, if I had 

teenage children, I would want them to go to Francis Scott Key 

Middle School because I know the leadership that principals show 

and what a difference that makes in the whole school environment. 

Teachers are better. The students are better. The custodians are 

better. Everything is better. Thank you. 

I held a conference call to Ohio reporters yesterday on the issue 

of summer feeding and asking them to help—I usually do not ask 

reporters or suggest what they write, but I asked them to help get 

the word out for these Summer Feeding Programs. Part of it is we 

only have about 1,700 sites, which is more than we have had some 

other summers. We get AmeriCorps and some other groups and individuals helping us build the sites. You have got to build them in 

May or June and then take them down in September, and you have 

got to find people to do it, churches and schools and libraries and 

all. 

But, talk to me, if you would, talk to the committee, Ms. 

Stanislaus, what that means in terms of the huge drop-off, not just 

weekends—do not talk the weekends and during the school year, 

but in the summer, what that actually means to children, to their 

development, to their physical and mental development, to their 

preparation the next fall for school, all that means. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Thank you. When I look into their faces, that 

is where I start. I can see immediately if a student has been really 

taken care of over the summer, has had nutritious meals. You can 

tell by their physical appearance, by their level of energy when 

they come back, just even—it does not even take a summer. You 

can see over, like, a spring break, if they come back, very often, it 

14 

takes them a lot longer to get ready for their school day, for their 

school week. If school starts on a Monday, they may be ready by 

Wednesday. 

What I have noticed was just a drop in their socialization. I have 

noticed them misbehaving more, where when they have a level of 

consistency, when they know that, they have eaten every day and 

it is a nutritious breakfast, lunch, their anxiety does not go up. 

Right now is the second-to-last day of school in my school and 

many other middle schools, and as principals talk, we are noticing 

that the anxiety in our children are really increasing. I think a 

part of it is because they know that they are not going to be able 

to come in and get that free breakfast and free lunch. 

I am fortunate to have a school that will have that this summer, 

but not all schools in my system have it, only 12. So—— 

Senator BROWN. Talk to me—if I could take another few seconds—— 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Sure. 

Senator BROWN. Understanding, probably in the State of Maryland, the Summer Feeding Program is roughly ten or 12 or 15 percent of those during the year. How does that compare? If you have 

an active middle school like yours with however many students 

that you said it is a universal free breakfast, how many of them 

are there in the summer and what can we learn from what you do 

there in your geographic location to reach into communities and do 

better everywhere? 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Thank you. It starts with communicating. That 

is first. I—this summer will be my actual first summer with this 

school to see exactly how this program works. I do have over 900 

students. It is us really reaching out to the parents—— 

Senator BROWN. You have 900 during the school year—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Yes. 

Senator BROWN. —or 900 in the summer—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. During this current school year. 

Senator BROWN. Okay. How many do you have in the summer 

feeding? You do not know yet. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Well, it is open to everyone, and I am not sure 

yet, because this will be the first summer—— 

Senator BROWN. But, last year, do you know how many they 

had? 

Ms. STANISLAUS. We did not have the summer program—— 

Senator BROWN. You did not have it last year. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. —and that is where, you know. We are really 

excited to have it this year, and I will—I can get back to you and 

let you know the success of it. 

Senator BROWN. Will you—if I can interrupt again. I apologize. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Sure. No problem. 

Senator BROWN. Sorry, Madam Chair. Do you use the same—I 

know in most—it seems most that I have watched and been part, 

I mean, been part as an observer, the breakfasts and lunches and 

the snacks in the summer are pretty much pre-prepared in boxes 

and all that. Will you, in the Summer Feeding Program, because 

you are using the middle school’s cafeteria, I assume—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Mm-hmm. 

15 

Senator BROWN. —will you prepare these lunches and breakfasts 

the same way you do during the school year? 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Yes. They will get warm lunches. Breakfast is 

usually a cold breakfast, a cereal and a bagel, a fruit. But, for the 

lunch package, it is going to be prepared the same way it would 

be prepared during the school year. 

Senator BROWN. So—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. They are actually going to have—hire staff to 

come in and ensure that the teachers are teaching and the staff 

who are working in our cafeteria—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. The reimbursement for this is enough to fund 

the same kind of feeding program that you do during the school 

year? 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Hmm? 

Senator BROWN. The same kind of preparation of food that you 

do during the school year? 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Uh, yes. 

Senator BROWN. The funding—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. The county is handling the funding. 

Senator BROWN. The county is going beyond what USDA does. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Yes. 

Senator BROWN. Okay. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Yes. 

Senator BROWN. Sorry for the length of that, Madam Chair. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. No, thank you very much. That is an 

important question we are going to get into in reauthorization, and 

breakfasts versus lunch. 

Another great children’s advocate—we are so lucky on this committee to have Senator Brown and Senator Casey. Welcome. Thank 

you. 

Senator CASEY. Madam Chair, thank you, and thank you for having this hearing and we have great testimony here and great witnesses. 

Senator Brown was asking a lot of the questions that are on the 

minds of each of us when it comes to kind of a general point, the 

drop-off between the children that get either a breakfast or a lunch 

or both during the school year, and then in the summer, a huge 

drop-off. 

In Pennsylvania, we have more than 1.8 million children enrolled 

in the School Lunch Program. A fraction of that are getting help 

in the summer, and that is one of our big challenges. 

Just at the outset, I just want to make a brief statement about 

kind of a philosophy of mine, or a guiding principle for me. I think 

one of the problems we have nationally in terms of our national 

programs, national efforts—what you might even call a national 

strategy, which I do not think we have for children, but I think 

what we need—this question that we are examining in this hearing 

is, I think, at least one of the four pillars or one of the four parts 

of the strategy. 

If we are doing the right thing—and we are not, we are a long 

way from this—we should make sure that every child has health 

insurance, every child has a quality early learning opportunity— 

and when I say every child, I mean every single one, that has to 

be the goal—that every child has the kinds of basic protections 

16 

from predators, and then, number four, and not in this order, is the 

issue we are talking about today, that children have access to 

enough food to eat, but making sure that it is nutritious food. If 

we did those four things for every child, we would be a much better 

country and our national security would be enhanced. 

This is one of those four, and I know we do not have time for 

every question, but I wanted to ask—I wanted to start with Dr. 

Cook. The WIC Program, talk to me about that in terms of the 

Women, Infants, and Children Program as a preventative step to 

cut back on the potential that child will be obese down the road, 

if you can talk about that one particular program. 

Dr. COOK. Sure, and thank you very much for the question. The 

Women, Infants, and Children Program represents a great opportunity. In New York, they piloted some of the first changes and we 

were able to see in our community how the offerings to the mothers 

were changing, more whole grains, better variety of foods for the 

mothers who are breastfeeding as well as for the infants and children, more culturally diverse food offerings, as well, which we also 

know is very appropriate. If a family comes from a certain cultural 

background, yet what they are offered is not relative to the parents 

who are preparing and serving these meals, it is not really going 

to work. 

I think it also represents a great window, as pediatricians, where 

we look at another way to outreach to the families. If we can get 

WIC workers in our office, in our waiting rooms two days a month, 

where they can be there and make available the information to 

families, we feel that is a huge advantage. 

I had mentioned before, 80 percent of children in our community—in the City of Rochester qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, 

and because of that, the whole city school district has universal 

Lunch Program, as well. In the two largest practices in the city, 

ours and the other training practice that is affiliated with another 

hospital in our system, we have about 13,000 patients in each of 

them. Sixty-five percent, if not more, are Medicaid/Medicaid-eligible, and we know that just with those two practices, we reach approximately 45 percent of the children in the city. Just with those 

two sites, linking access to WIC and WIC enrollment represents a 

great opportunity to get the information out. 

For the past couple of years, we have been working with our food 

pantry agency that is organizing the Summer Meal Programs, as 

well as some of the advocacy agencies, to get the information about 

where summer meals are into the pediatric practices. We do not 

see every kid, but when kids are coming in for a summer camp 

physical or for illness, we have that information available. We always try to think a season or two ahead, and that has been one 

of the strategies we have looked at specifically. 

I am very fortunate, because where I trained in Rochester, the 

concept of community pediatrics was born because we felt we had 

to really reach out to children and families. We have done a great 

job with vaccines preventing so many illnesses in kids that we are 

now seeing this wave of new morbidity, and nutrition, physical inactivity, mental health issues are the core of that wave, and so we 

really have to think outside the four walls of our office. 

17 

Senator CASEY. I was going to ask you a question, but I will answer the question in my own way. I think if you just looked at one 

indicator of how we are doing in terms of national policy that 

undergirds a national strategy for helping pregnant women, I do 

not think we would get a very high letter grade, maybe a D. That 

is my opinion, but I think we have a long way to go, and WIC plays 

a role in that, as you know. 

I know we are almost out of time, but I wanted to ask our principal, Principal Stanislaus, maybe just on a lighter note, when you 

talked about irritability in the morning and Sustained Silent Reading periods, that might help in the Senate. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator CASEY. We do not need more irritability. We have got 

plenty of that. But, Sustained Silent Reading, I think we should 

consider for Senators. We are pretty irritable when we are not eating. 

But, just this whole question, which is so central to the life of 

a child. I like to say that if kids learn more now, they are going 

to earn more later, but you cannot really learn if you are hungry. 

You cannot really learn if you have got a lot of other things happening to you. But, just this basic, fundamental question about the 

trouble that children have concentrating—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Mm-hmm. 

Senator CASEY. —because of lack of access to food or nutritious 

food. Talk about that for a moment. I know you spoke to it, but—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Right. I think for me, personally, because I was 

one of those children and I have a personal connection to what that 

really feels like if you do not have your breakfast because—or you 

do not have dinner because there is nothing at home to eat and you 

are truly waiting to come to school for that meal, I can get it because I can just kind of envision what that feels like because I have 

lived it. I understand. Even when my students are—it is middle 

schoolers. We all know at times they say, ‘‘Oh, I am fine,’’ or try 

to be too proud. I know what that really, really means. It may just 

mean taking them into another location and saying, oh, here. Here 

is your breakfast. 

Yes, it plays a very, very heavy role. That is why, I think, as a 

principal, you really need to be in touch with the social-emotional 

side of where your children are and really get to know them and 

get to know their families. Unfortunately, there is a really big stigma with being a student who receives Free and Reduced Meals. 

For some reason, they just know that, oh, I am a student who receives Free and Reduced Meals. But, having my Breakfast Program, it made such a difference because now everyone, any child, 

it does not matter of the income of their parent, can get their meal 

in the morning and it is no stigma attached. 

It is really pushing students past that in order to help them 

unlock their best thinking, because if you cannot—if you are hungry, you are not going to concentrate. You may get some of the information, but you are going to miss most of the information. At 

times, the hunger and the misbehavior tend to go hand-in-hand. 

Once you take care of that fundamental need, you often find that 

students are able to elevate their progress throughout the course 

of the day, throughout the course of the year. 

18 

Senator CASEY. Thanks very much. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you. 

Senator Klobuchar. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Well, thank you very much. I am sorry I 

was late. I was at a Judiciary hearing where we had some votes. 

But, I knew I was at the right hearing when I saw Senator 

Gillibrand’s orange peels right here. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Thank you so much to our witnesses, and 

thank you to the Chairman for holding this hearing. 

In 2010, we overwhelmingly approved major reforms to the Child 

Nutrition Programs through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, 

and I supported that legislation, felt very strongly about it, and I 

oppose some of the current efforts to roll it back. I think that we 

have shown a bit of progress with some stability in the numbers 

and the rates of childhood obesity, but I think we all know that 

there is a lot more work to be done. 

I guess I would start with you, General Hawley. In your testimony, you included an anecdote about school kids and the consumption of nearly two million candy bars. I think you said it 

weighed more than the U.S.S. Midway Aircraft Carrier. That is 

quite a picture. I have worked closely with Senator Harkin to 

change the standards for vending machines and a la carte lines, 

and the Smart Snacks in school provision takes effect, as you know, 

July 1st. In your view, what role do vending machines and a la 

carte lines play in medical disqualifications in recruitment? 

General HAWLEY. Well, I think they play a huge role. We all 

know that sugar is a primary contributor to this problem, the overconsumption of sugar. I am not an expert on what is going on in 

today’s schools, because my kids grew up a long time ago, but I can 

relate a tale from one of my partners in this effort who related the 

fact that when he was a child growing up in North Carolina, they 

had cigarette machines in the schools. This is a place where kids 

go to get—— 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Okay. 

General HAWLEY. —bad habits reinforced. Our experience in the 

military is that by the time we get them as recruits, it is almost 

too late to influence their habits, because we all know that we develop eating habits early. I like the things that my mother fed me 

when I was a child. I am 72 years old and nothing has changed. 

These habits that our children form by accessing these vending machines with unhealthy foods, sugary drinks, Twinkies, you name it, 

shape their habits going forward—— 

That affects our ability as military services to recruit adequately. 

It contributes to the fact that only 25 percent of enlistment-eligible 

youth could join the military if they walked into a recruiter’s office 

today. We need to get a handle on that. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Okay. Ms. Stanislaus, thanks for your work 

as a principal. My mom taught second grade until she was 70 years 

old. She had 30 second graders at age 70, so I really appreciate 

your work. 

As implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act continues, USDA, as you know, has provided additional technical assistance, including $25 million in grant funding to help schools purVerDate Nov 24 2008 17:33 Feb 23, 2015 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 C:\USERS\MW42035\DESKTOP\DOCS\93031.TXT MICAH
19 

chase kitchen equipment that will allow them to provide healthier 

meals. 

As an administrator who works closely with the cafeteria in your 

school, do you think that there is going to be more investment in 

kitchen equipment in order to provide healthier meals? 

Ms. STANISLAUS. I think that for my county, the Food Services 

Administrators, they often visit our school to monitor and ensure 

that the lunches that we are serving are healthy. I have to say that 

my county has done a really great job with giving our school and 

all of the schools across the county kind of a guideline as to what 

is acceptable nutritional values. Days of pizza parties are gone, because we want to ensure that the foods that we are serving are of 

really high nutritional value. 

I think about the vending machine. We do have a vending machine. It is on a timer, and I thank you for ensuring that we do 

have healthy snacks in the vending machine that are not only befitting what the expectation here is for this committee, but also the 

expectation for my county. Students, yes, they are allowed to go to 

the vending machines, but after they have eaten their meals. 

Getting back to the equipment in the kitchen, everything for our 

kitchen, we are really, I would say, pretty much doing okay. But, 

if there is ever anything that we need, the county is right there to 

support my staff. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. Thank you, and our State has actually been 

a leader in bringing the Farm to School Programs in place. I am 

out of time here, but I will ask you about that in writing. Thank 

you very much for all your work, and—— 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Thank you. 

Senator KLOBUCHAR. —we know that change is not easy, but I 

think these standards are very important and I do not think now 

is the time to roll them back. Thank you. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. 

Senator Thune. 

Senator THUNE. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, and thank you 

all for being here and for providing great insights on this important 

subject. 

General, thank you for your service. Welcome back. It is nice to 

see you again. I am interested in the fact that 25 percent of our 

young people 17 to 24 are eligible, and you listed academic preparedness, obesity, and criminal records as the three, and I guess— 

where does obesity fit into that, and how has that changed in the 

time that you were in the service relative to those other factors? 

General HAWLEY. Well, on the first point, our best—people are 

disqualified sometimes for multiple reasons, so it is a little hard to 

pin down exactly what percentage is due to overweight or obesity, 

but better than one in five of the disqualified applicants are attributable to overweight or obesity. 

Senator THUNE. Okay. 

General HAWLEY. The change is dramatic, of course, over the 

course of my service. I became a Second Lieutenant in 1964. It was 

a very different country then and obesity was not nearly the problem that we have today. I cannot give you the number, but I would 

guess it was below ten percent were rejected from service because 

of their weight. 

20 

Senator THUNE. Well, and you said 1,200 a year are discharged 

because of that. Is that—when they are discharged, we assume 

that when they came in, they met the weight requirements, and 

then what contributes to that while they are in the service? How 

do they—— 

General HAWLEY. I think most of them were borderline when 

they came in, and, of course, we feed them very well. 

[Laughter.] 

Senator THUNE. Right. 

General HAWLEY. We exercise a lot, but we offer a lot of food. 

Sometimes it is due to other factors. They have consumed so many 

sugary drinks rather than milk and too few vegetables so their 

bones are brittle and we wind up with—it is both a weight-related 

problem and a diet-related problem, so they suffer fractures, serious sprains, whatever. But, there is a lot of issues with those, and 

every time we have to discharge one for these problems, we spend 

about $75,000 to go recruit a replacement and train them, to the 

tune of about $90 million a year. 

Senator THUNE. Let me just—I can direct this to anybody on the 

panel, but, just, what can be done to encourage parents to do a better job, take more responsibility for providing healthy, nutritious 

meals for children? I mean, people kind of hearken back to their 

younger days. When I was growing up, I grew up in a small town. 

We did not have a School Lunch Program, so everybody either went 

home or they brought a sack lunch to school. We, fortunately, lived 

close enough to the school that we would go home, but my parents 

both worked, and somehow, my mother managed to get up in the 

morning and get something for us for breakfast and then put something in the oven for lunch. 

It is a very different world today, but what can we do to encourage, better incentivize parents to complement the meals that are 

provided at the schools and ensure that our kids are getting the 

nutrition that they need? 

Dr. COOK. I can speak on that topic from the standpoint of I have 

yet to meet a parent that does not want to try to provide the basic 

necessities, as we have heard. Feeding and sleeping are probably 

the most important things to the parent of a newborn. It is really 

important to craft that message and think about that message very 

early. We are even looking at and seeing research that it is at the 

time of conception and during pregnancies, when mothers are planning what they are going to do for their child—where they sleep, 

how they feed, if they breastfeed, a number of things that go on 

that actually sustain those behaviors very early. 

It is really important to understand, and when I say parents, unfortunately, this does become much a burden of mothers because of 

their role. I think it is really important to understand that identifying these issues very early at the health of pregnancy can be one 

of the early windows to try to identify where parents feel is normal 

and not normal, what is really healthy versus perceived healthy. 

We have hit on history a lot here and I find that very important, 

and one of the best advocates I have often found is when grandma 

is in the room, because that can be a great resource for the family. 

Unfortunately, many of the families I see, not really the traditional 

nuclear family are very disconnected. They may not have the same 

21 

type of social support and social structure that can give that type 

of beneficial anecdotal evidence. 

I think it is important to understand, the evidence is very difficult to figure out in kids because you cannot do a research study 

in a child the same way you can in an adult. They are a protected 

population. It is using history, using families, and in this case, providing those resources at really critical times, and in infancy and 

childhood, getting families to adopt these behaviors is really an important time because it can imprint these behaviors throughout 

their lifetime. 

Senator THUNE. Do you think that we put too much—I mean, is 

it a disincentive to parents when you increase the number of meals 

and parents start shifting that responsibility to the schools and 

say, well, the school is going to take care of that? 

Dr. COOK. I think it is a really important balance to try to strike, 

because the parents are assuming, and parents do have a respect 

for the school to protect their child, and so I think it represents 

that balance of they are assuming that it is the right thing that 

is being done there. As we have had parents engage schools around 

the PTA, around school wellness policies, they become very concerned and shocked when they are actually in there seeing what 

is available. I think it is a balance of the responsibility of the parent as well as the school, and that is why having parents involved 

in the process actually is moving this forward very well. 

Senator THUNE. My time has expired, so thank you, Madam 

Chairman. Thank you all. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. 

Senator Gillibrand. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman, for holding this hearing. I am very grateful. 

Mr. Thornton, with the start of summer upon us, I am reminded 

that many of our low-income students and children will lose access 

to school breakfasts and lunches that they rely on during the 

school year and that both hunger and obesity go up during summer 

vacation. The Summer Nutrition Program ensures that low-income 

children have access to healthy food throughout the summer. Most 

Summer Nutrition Programs occur in tandem with education enrichment programs that keep kids learning, engaged, and safe during the summer months. 

However, despite these benefits, summer meals only reach a fraction of eligible children and many children often do not have adequate access and go hungry during the summertime. Can you talk 

a little bit about the need to ensure access to healthy meals yearround so that children are returning for the school year healthy 

and ready to learn. 

Mr. THORNTON. Senator, thank you for the question. Quickly, to 

address the former, Senator, one of the things I talk about to our 

over four million parents around the country is personal accountability. Education begins at home. Dr. Cook mentioned earlier, different people come from different stages in life. I am one of those 

kids who did not always have access to food during the summers. 

I mean, my family did the best they could, but, again, we have to 

keep that in mind as we look at the public school system its, use 

as a public good and that these type of programs help kids that 

22 

may not have the same privilege or opportunity as other kids have 

had. 

Senator, as for the programs we are looking at and working on 

for our children, we are working with Secretary Vilsack and the 

Department of Agriculture and other organizations to help find 

those resources to get additional food for those kids in the summer, 

recognizing, as we heard the principal talk about today, the impact 

that it has on their academic performance and coming back to 

school after having to deal with that. Very directly, we are working 

with government agencies and our advocates to try to get those 

programs in the communities. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you. 

Dr. Cook, in New York, we talk a lot about the intersection of 

childhood obesity and actual hunger, that the quality of the nutrition that some of our most obese children are receiving is so low 

that they are actually obese but still starving. We address this a 

bit in the farm bill with food deserts, trying to make sure that 

inner cities or remote areas have access to affordable fruits and 

vegetables. You would be surprised. There are food deserts in the 

Bronx, in Brooklyn, in the North Country. In a State as wealthy 

and rich as New York, it seems outrageous. 

But, can you talk a little bit about the intersection of hunger and 

obesity and what are the dynamics at play, and what are your best 

ideas for the School Nutrition Program to combat both, or any 

other programs that you think are worth mentioning. 

Dr. COOK. Thank you very much for the question, Senator. The 

interaction of hunger and obesity is a really important and complex 

one. As research has actually really shown, the body physiologically 

adapts to these different states. Anecdotally, the story is always 

that at the beginning of the month, families have more food. Near 

the end of the month, there is less. We have seen evidence that 

shows that the eating patterns, the foods available in the home are 

different at the beginning of the month versus the end of the 

month. 

The problem is that metabolically, physiologically, that actually 

has an impact on the body, and biologically, we are still cavemen. 

When we put on calories, the body’s metabolism when we store 

that alters to hold on to that, to defend that weight, because we 

know we need to survive. Even though it is not the Stone Age, our 

bodies physiologically still respond that way, which makes weight 

loss extremely difficult. 

You have a person, especially a child, who has gained a tremendous amount of weight for whatever reason, whether the origins 

are hunger, stress, depression, overfeeding and cyclic feeding patterns that you would see if you are having more calories at the beginning of the month versus the end. That makes it more difficult 

to lose weight. 

The stress that comes with hunger also drives up hormones that 

drive up appetite. The distress that goes on in some of our children 

is obesity is just one of the manifestations of that. The hunger is 

always there. As we look at these children metabolically, even 

though their weight may be normal or high, they are nutrient deficient. We still see many children, obese children, who are iron deficient, who are borderline Vitamin D deficient, because while they 

23 

get excess calories, they are not getting the important nutrients. 

We know in childhood, especially in infancy and toddlerhood when 

the brain is growing, just like it is more susceptible to a small level 

of a toxin like lead—a small amount of lead fed to a child or a child 

is exposed to lead as a toddler has a big impact on the brain. 

Very concerning that the nutrition science is coming along that 

is suggesting some of the same findings. Are we imprinting eating 

behaviors, or because of nutritional deficiencies, affecting the developmental growth, the brain growth in children. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you, Doctor. 

Ms. Stanislaus, can you talk about ways to increase participation 

in School Nutrition Programs, such as offering breakfast or lunch 

for free for all students, allowing students eligible for reduced price 

school meals to participate for free, or implementing a Breakfast 

Program. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. I still struggle every year with having my parents complete a form that will make them eligible for their students to receive Free and Reduced Meals. As stated earlier, I currently have slightly over 65 percent of my students who are eligible 

for that, but I can assure you that I have more children in my 

building whose parents may not have felt comfortable filling out 

that form because it, in a sense, stigmatizes them. 

Once we received the Free Breakfast Program for all students, 

it took that stigma away. Wow, would it not be amazing to have 

a Free Breakfast Program and a Free Lunch Program so that it 

would take away the stigmatism that goes with having to fill out 

that form and turn it in and, oh my gosh, what are they going to 

think about me. 

I struggle with that every year. Sometimes, it is me calling a 

parent into my office and kind of having a heart-to-heart and letting them know, it is okay. I will take the form. I will personally 

turn it in. It makes that difference, but that is the difference, and 

the time that I am willing to take, and many of my colleagues, to 

ensure that the children get what they need. 

In saying that, I think if it does not change, just exciting students about learning about nutrition, like Dr. Cook was saying, 

using food as fuel as opposed to, I just want to eat it because it 

really tastes good. They may—trying different things will excite 

them. In turn, I have found as a principal, often it excites the parents. 

But, going back to if it were free for all, I can imagine that everyone would partake in the program. 

Senator GILLIBRAND. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Thank you. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. 

Senator Boozman, we are so glad to see you. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you very 

much. 

Ms. Stanislaus, I really do not have a question for you, but I do 

want to thank you. As a principal, I know how hard you all work. 

I was on the school board for seven years, and I tell my colleagues, 

it does not matter what issue we are discussing here, there are 

many school board issues that are much more tougher. We do apVerDate Nov 24 2008 17:33 Feb 23, 2015 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 C:\USERS\MW42035\DESKTOP\DOCS\93031.TXT MICAH
24 

preciate all that you represent and the people that work with you 

to get this done. 

Dr. Cook, in your testimony, you told the story about a small 

change in beverage consumption that made a huge difference for a 

young person and got them back into the normal BMI range. Is 

there any other low-hanging fruit out there that we can do in the 

same manner? 

Dr. COOK. The area that we look at in terms of low-hanging 

fruit—— 

Senator BOOZMAN. Maybe it is fruit. 

[Laughter.] 

Dr. COOK. Low-hanging vegetables, I would add. 

[Laughter.] 

Dr. COOK. I think both of those are part of the key points, and 

it is really important to find where the evidence is and then what 

is feasible. I can give patients all kinds of advice, but if it is not 

going to fit in their lifestyle, in their day, in their routine, it is not 

going to work. Relative in terms of the low-hanging fruit, early and 

often. Giving the message seven times is kind of a joke, but really 

a useful strategy. 

If we have some of these same messages that we are using in our 

offices are being used in schools and day care centers around 

screen time, physical activity, active play, where they are running 

around—not necessarily has to be structured sports. Fruits and 

vegetables are really important and really tough, probably the 

toughest of all the behaviors because of access, taste, presentation, 

so many steps that can go into it. But, liquid calories really are 

very occult, and I say that because you could drink this package 

full of water or it could be a sugary beverage and the amount of 

fullness you will feel will be the same, and will probably be minimal. Yet, you could have 600 calories in there or you could have 

zero. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Right. 

Dr. COOK. The amount of time a parent or a child—actually, the 

amount of time a child needs to be active to burn 600 calories 

would probably drive a parent nuts—— 

[Laughter.] 

Dr. COOK. —because of the amount of activity. I mean, a big 

misperception is that children are very active and it burns a lot of 

the calories. As liquid calories, being, really, an important first 

step. Screen time and—— 

Senator BOOZMAN. You run into—and I do not mean to interrupt 

you—— 

Dr. COOK. No, go ahead. 

Senator BOOZMAN. But, you run into the same problem besides 

the Coke-type beverages. You would run into the same problem 

with some of the juice, high-calorie sugar—— 

Dr. COOK. Absolutely. I mean—— 

Senator BOOZMAN. —or carbohydrates. 

Dr. COOK. Yes. I mean, virtually almost all the liquid calories we 

drink will fall into that range and it has a very similar pattern. 

The low-hanging fruit, a lot of times, can be liquid calories. 

Again, screen time, very important. When we can bring in more 

evidence to reinforce it to parents—the screen time is bad because 

25 

it is mindless time. They are not active. It is actually more time 

for consumption. If you sit in front of a screen for five or six hours, 

you may not burn 100 calories, but you may eat 250 calories, and 

it is that occult eating that you do not catch. The same thing with 

kids, and it becomes a repetitive type of behavior. It also does not 

allow kids to relax and fall asleep easier, and that, again, is a very 

important concern for our parents. 

Having the stealth type of intervention, or having the collateral 

type of advantage of these small steps can be really beneficial, and 

if we can give these in age-appropriate simple steps in our office 

and in other settings that reach families and children, like school, 

early child care programs, after school programs, then we are hitting them with multiple messages—the same message multiple 

times. 

Senator BOOZMAN. In your testimony, you equated that to a normal BMI range. The BMI, it has some problems with it in the 

sense that there are body types and things. I hear from parents occasionally that you have a kid that is just a good, healthy, normal 

looking kid, and yet the BMI says that they are obese. Our body 

types are different. Is there another test that is coming out that 

perhaps will do a better job of identifying people that truly are in 

need? 

Dr. COOK. I think that is a very important point, because BMI 

is a useful tool on a population level, and if measuring a thousand 

people, the top third fall in this range for health, on the individual 

level, it can be more limiting because it measures weight either as 

fat or as muscle. I always caution pediatricians to think about it. 

When we try to use the data, the higher the cut-off, the worse concern I have. But, in a young child, I will also ask a pediatrician, 

if they are asking for advice, what is the parent’s weight, because 

having two obese parents as a three-year-old is actually a much 

bigger risk factor for that child to be an obese adult than their actual weight at the time. 

Additional measures really comes out of the research that we are 

trying to develop and the importance of continuing this research 

and looking in children, because children are a group that are not 

studied as closely. We are putting more attention to it, and we 

need to understand what is the really normal physiological growth. 

I think the sad point is that we do not have as many children going 

through normal physiologic growth in our modern era than we 

would have even 30 years ago. 

I would also add the point that, when parents will say, well, they 

are big boned, or they are pretty large, most toddlers, three-, four- 

, five-year-olds, do not have that much muscle mass. Even when 

their BMI is high, it is more likely going to have more components 

of body fat. Now, when it is teenagers and body and muscle mass 

and fat mass are changing, it is a different story and it can be very 

difficult. 

But, I agree. It really does need to look at a mix of when we can 

identify BMI as the first step. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Right. 

Dr. COOK. What I like to say is, like not every tumor is cancer, 

not every high BMI is obesity—— 

Senator BOOZMAN. Right. 

26 

Dr. COOK. —and, so, we really do have to work on that. 

Senator BOOZMAN. I think you make a good point. Even among 

the pediatric community, that is so well educated in this, my concern is that at the school level, where you have an administrator 

or whoever is doing these programs, and in many of our smaller 

schools, there are people like that. They simply look at a number, 

chart that in, and it is automatically that way without using any 

common sense along with it. 

Dr. COOK. I agree, and I think schools have a lot of things on 

their plate, and doing fitness testing, we know, is beneficial, and 

increased cardiovascular fitness is beneficial for all kids. But, as we 

have seen in Rochester when asking parents and doing surveys, 

they want to hear about this and talk about this with their primary care provider. Even if we can off-load some of those burdens 

from schools of doing it, because that is where we are hearing—— 

Senator BOOZMAN. I agree. 

Dr. COOK. —the few but loud stories of, this is not really an accurate measure of my child, well, that may or may not be true. But, 

maybe if we put it in a different context when health can be presented, it can take some of the burden off of schools and can put 

it in a setting where parents may be more comfortable to discuss 

it. 

Senator BOOZMAN. Right. Thank you, Madam Chair. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. Really important 

questions and discussions. 

We are going to be wrapping up, but I would like to ask each of 

you a closing question, the same question, that would be very helpful to us because we have been talking about child nutrition and 

the impact both within the school, but also more broadly for our 

country. If you could give the committee a piece of advice as we 

consider reauthorizing Child Nutrition Programs, what would you 

say is the most important thing we could do to address some of the 

concerns and the ideas that you have raised today. 

I will start with General Hawley. 

General HAWLEY. Well, I learned during my career that probably 

the most valuable trait you can have is persistence. As they say, 

persistence will out. I guess my advice would be, stay with it. This 

is an important program. I am sure it is not perfect and it can be 

improved. But, I think it is beginning to work. My view is that this 

is a cultural issue in our country and cultures take a long time to 

change. We should not expect instant results from any program, 

least of all one that tries to change the nation’s eating habits. I 

give my advice, stay with it. Keep up the good work. I think, in 

time, we will see the results. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Okay. Great advice. 

Mr. Thornton. 

Mr. THORNTON. Thank you, Chairwoman. As we talk about these 

nutrition needs of our children, they remain the same whether you 

live in Iowa or Georgia. It is impractical to try to force parents to 

fight for access to healthier foods one school at a time. Instead of 

reinventing the wheel while facing the same obstacles, this is the 

way the reauthorization of these programs can continue to make a 

difference. 

27 

PTA has worked very hard throughout the history to ensure that 

kids had access to equal education, proper nutrition, proper fitness, 

and it is very, very important. I just thank you and the committee 

and all the panelists for engaging this topic, which is critical to the 

future of our children and our country. Make no mistake. The decisions during this reauthorization will have a definite impact on our 

schools, our hospitals, our economy, our military, our homes, and 

most importantly, our kids. 

I thank you for this time. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. 

Dr. Cook. 

Dr. COOK. Thank you very much for the question. I find it a persistent question that we get a lot related to this as I give presentations, and sometimes it is the, what is the one thing I would do 

if I could do something, would be to get everyone to realize there 

is not one thing you can do. Everything is part of the problem. 

Each one of these strategies and proposals represents one percent 

of the solution. It cannot be left off. It is not the magic bullet. We 

need to include all of these. 

We need to think global and act local, because that is where I 

find, like, a lot of social change occurs. It is going to occur at the 

grassroots level where it really can take hold and have that local 

relevant context that is really important. 

I thank you for the question. Just to conclude, with obesity and 

with hunger, we discuss this a lot, and I think it is really important that obesity has come up as a disease, but it is probably the 

one disease that still exists that does not carry the dignity of other 

chronic diseases, and that is even more so a problem for children 

and adolescents. I think it is really important to make this about 

health, about health at any size, and promoting the health across 

all children and all families. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thank you very much. 

Principal Stanislaus. 

Ms. STANISLAUS. Thank you, Chairwoman. We have mentioned a 

few times today that how the schools are really on the front lines. 

I thank you for this opportunity to share my thinking and my experiences with our school and my school system. The partnership is 

definitely something that I would say, let us continue this conversation and think about what actions that we will take and that 

we can take back to our schools and our school districts, continued 

opportunities to increase the education for parents. 

What—just as a one principal schoolhouse, I often find that we 

struggle with funding to have different events for families, after 

school events. It does take money to put these things together. At 

times, we are robbing Peter to pay Paul in order to make this happen for our local communities. If we can think about opportunities 

for these partnerships with universities, as I mentioned earlier, or 

increased funding so we can have buses after school so that we can 

not only have the nutritious After School Program and Snack Program, but also physical activities and clubs that students can be 

a part of so they are not sitting in front of the screen at home. 

I think this continued conversation, this conversation does not 

need to stop here. Getting feedback from other principals and 

28 

schools would be a great welcome to different educators and all 

educators. Thank you. 

Chairwoman STABENOW. Thanks to each of you, and this discussion does not stop here. This is just the beginning. It was important to me that we start with the big picture of why we have these 

programs, why should we care about this. We are going to be hearing from all perspectives and working with everyone to make sure 

that the way things are done makes sense and are workable, and 

we certainly want to move forward, not backward. We do not intend to move backward, so we are going to move forward. But, we 

think it is very, very important that we talk about why, as a country, why, as a community, why, as parents and family members, 

that we need to care. 

Thank you again to everyone. Let me just remind colleagues that 

any additional questions for the record should be submitted to the 

Committee Clerk five business days from today. That is 5:00 p.m. 

on Friday, June 20. 

The hearing is adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 11:34 a.m., the committee was adjourned.] 

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