H. Res. 362 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

March 4, 2010. 

Whereas the National School Lunch Program is declared to 

be the policy of the United States Congress, as a measure 

of national security, to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the Nation’s children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities and other food, by assisting the States, through 

grants-in-aid and other means, in providing an adequate 

supply of food and other facilities for the establishment, 

maintenance, operation, and expansion of nonprofit 

school lunch programs; 

Whereas Federal regulations further state that participating 

schools shall ensure that children gain a full understanding of the relationship between proper eating and 

good health; 

Whereas local educational agencies are responsible for collaborating with the school community to implement comprehensive nutrition and wellness policies in schools that 

participate in the National School Lunch Program; 

Whereas all of the Nation’s more than 49,000,000 pupils deserve access to high-quality, safe, nutritious meals available in the school setting, recognizing the link between 

adequate nourishment and educational performance; 
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Whereas children that experience hunger have been shown to 

be more likely to have lower math scores, decreased attentiveness, increased likelihood of repeating a grade, increased absences and tardiness, and more referrals to 

special education services; 

Whereas in 2009, the National School Lunch Program in the 

United States provided over 31,000,000 meals to school 

children daily, and must comply with rigorous State and 

Federal requirements, provide adequate food preparation 

and dining facilities, and cover costs to provide reimbursable meals including food, energy, transportation, labor, 

and other costs; 

Whereas the National School Lunch Program must provide 

nutritious meals that are consistent with the goals of the 

most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans; 

Whereas the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies 

of Sciences recommends increased amounts of fruits, 

vegetables, and whole grains in the National School 

Lunch Program, and that measures to improve the quality of meals may increase program costs and the need for 

administrative support; 

Whereas school food service must operate on a nonprofit 

basis, and it is expected that the Federal subsidy for a 

free meal will, on average, cover the costs of producing 

a reimbursable meal; 

Whereas the U.S. Department of Agriculture identified that 

the full cost to produce a reimbursable lunch generally 

exceeds the Federal reimbursement for a free lunch; and 

Whereas revenue deficits in school meal programs must be 

offset by generating additional revenue from other 
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sources that may otherwise support classroom instruction: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) supports the goals and ideals of the National 

School Lunch Program; and 

(2) recognizes that America’s pupils deserve access 

to high-quality, safe, nutritious meals available in the 

school setting. 

Attest: 

Clerk.