Title: Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March 2022 as "National CACFP Week".
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the role of the child and adult care food program (commonly referred to as CACFP) in improving the health of the country's most vulnerable children and adults in child care centers, adult day care homes, and after-school care by providing nutritious meals and snacks. It also supports the designation of National CACFP Week.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 980 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 980

Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March 2022 
                      as ``National CACFP Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 15, 2022

Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Carson, Mr. Case, Ms. Titus, 
  Mr. Sires, and Mr. San Nicolas) submitted the following resolution; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March 2022 
                      as ``National CACFP Week''.

Whereas the Department of Agriculture reaffirms the vital role positive 
        nutritional habits play in the healthy growth of children in the United 
        States;
Whereas the Department of Agriculture also recognizes the importance of 
        nutritional education for the most vulnerable and youngest children, as 
        well as adults, through care centers and homes throughout the United 
        States;
Whereas the child and adult care food program (commonly referred to as 
        ``CACFP'') provides daily meals and snacks to more than 4,200,000 
        children and 138,000 adults in child care centers, adult day care homes, 
        and after-school programs daily, covering the costs of nearly 
        2,100,000,000 nutritious meals and snacks each year;
Whereas research has found that participation in CACFP reduces the prevalence of 
        children who are overweight or underweight, which highlights the 
        continual importance of updated and accurate nutritional information;
Whereas CACFP increases the quality of child care, especially for children in 
        low-income communities;
Whereas 16,000 child care centers currently face permanent closure because of 
        increased costs and burdens from the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas CACFP increases the effectiveness and viability of child care centers 
        and adult day care homes for many providers, especially in rural areas;
Whereas CACFP improves the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical health and 
        development of children, leading to more favorable outcomes such as--

    (1) a decreased likelihood of being hospitalized;

    (2) an increased likelihood of healthy weight gain; and

    (3) an increased likelihood of a more varied diet, including increased 
consumption of vegetables;

Whereas the innovative approach to CACFP implementation, which pairs child care 
        homes and centers, adult day care centers, and after-school sites with 
        either a nonprofit sponsoring organization or a State agency, highlights 
        a unique public-private partnership that supports working families and 
        small businesses; and
Whereas the third week of March is annually recognized as ``National CACFP 
        Week'' to raise awareness of the child and adult care food program of 
        the Department of Agriculture: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the role of the child and adult care food 
        program (commonly referred to as ``CACFP'') in improving the 
        health of the country's most vulnerable children and adults in 
        child care centers, adult day care homes, and after-school care 
        by providing nutritious meals and snacks;
            (2) urges support for continuing to strengthen CACFP by 
        offering reimbursement for an additional meal or snack for 
        children in care for a full day, offering annual eligibility to 
        for-profit child care centers, and reducing administrative 
        burdens to participation;
            (3) acknowledges that CACFP can, and should, be an 
        important tool in reducing the costs faced by the care economy, 
        including for family, friend, and neighbor care and licensed 
        center-based care; and
            (4) supports the designation of ``National CACFP Week''.
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