“The committee is extending these important programs that make sure students are fed during the school day,” Sablan said. “We are also looking at ways to encourage school districts to make meals healthier.”
“One way the bill does that is by offering an extra six cents per meal, if schools serve meals that meet new nutritional standards to be set by the Department of Agriculture.
“But an extra six cents may not be enough in the Northern Marianas or Hawaii or Alaska, because of shipping costs and other factors.
“So I offered an amendment that allows the Secretary of Agriculture to increase the payment for us to take into account those higher costs.
“That will make healthier foods more of an option for our schools, even if healthier foods cost a little more.”
“It will also allow our own farmer’s to earn a little bit more when they sell fresh and nutritious local fruits and vegetables to the school meal program.”
Sablan’s amendment was unopposed and was incorporated into H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, by voice vote.
In addition to making meals healthier, the committee wants to extend meal programs into the summer and school holidays.
“It’s important to make sure our children have the food they need every school day, so they can have energy and be alert and get the most of our of their classes,” says Kilili.
“But beyond that it’s important that growing children have enough food every day — whether they are in school or not.
“Because their bodies and brains are growing and developing. Without adequate nutrition that growth can’t happen as it should.
“I would very much support extending our meal programs for students in the Northern Mariana Islands into summers and school breaks.
“The least we can do for our children is to make sure they have enough to eat.”
