A great idea and long overdue. It's quite a contrast from Reagan and the GOP classifying ketchup as a vegetable back in the '80s. Compassionate people, weren't they?
President Obama has proposed a $1-billion annual increase for Child Nutrition Act programs, which currently cost about $15 billion a year. The act covers the government's reimbursements to school districts for meals; summer and after-school food programs; food served at many day-care facilities for children and adults; and the Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children, which provided food to more than 8 million people in 2007.
Some reforms seem likely. Woolsey's bill has more than 150 cosponsors and industry and school groups' support.
"The huge increase in obesity got attention," said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center in Washington.
The National School Lunch Program, which feeds 30 million children a day, and the School Breakfast Program, which feeds a third that many, are getting much of the attention. Expanding the breakfast program is a priority for many. Starting the day hungry, experts say, affects children's ability to behave and learn.
