The Education and Labor Committee recently held a mark-up of the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act to expand access and improve the nutritional quality of meals in schools and child care.

The legislation would help set American children on a path of healthy eating and healthy living at a time when approximately 22 percent of the nation’s children lack access to quality food and one in three children are overweight or obese. Today, over 32 million children rely on federal child nutrition programs.

H.R. 5504 would dramatically expand access for millions of children to healthy meals year-round in schools, child care, and community based settings, and for the first time, establishes nutrition standards for foods sold outside of the cafeteria.

The legislation includes language from a number of bills Congresswoman McCarthy introduced to improve health and reduce obesity in our children.

“I am pleased that this legislation calls for common sense action, to protect the health of our children and I am proud that the manager’s amendment includes five bills that have introduced,” said Rep. McCarthy.  This legislation addresses the need to work with children of all ages, from infants to high school age, to help them form healthy habits.”

###