skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

MN Congressman Has Key Role in Addressing Child Hunger

play audio
Play

Tuesday, July 13, 2010   

ST. PAUL, Minn. - One in three school-age children in Minnesota relies on free or reduced lunch programs for two-thirds of his daily calories and that figure is increasing.

Congress is expected to take rapid action to address the growing problem: The House Education and Labor Committee is having a hearing this week on the $8 billion "Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act." One key Minnesota lawmaker has so far not supported the expanded legislation, but Jill Hiebert, communications manager of Hunger Solutions Minnesota, is hopeful that he will change his mind if he hears from enough constituents and advocates.

"Representative John Kline from Minnesota is one of the leaders on the committee that's reviewing the legislation this week, and we would like him to know that this bill is really going to help thousands of children in our state."

Congressman Kline says that while child nutrition programs are worthy, given the deficit, Congress does not have $8 billion to spare. The child nutrition legislation will increase the number of children eligible to receive food, and has provisions to address infant and child hunger issues through school lunch, summer nutrition programs, and more access to healthy, locally-grown food.

Pediatric and academic research shows that nutrition plays a key role in a child's academic and behavioral development, says Hiebert. She adds that funding child nutrition programs is not only essential for kids' health, but it is an affordable way to improve education performance.

"Frankly, when it's testing time, the children are provided food for free because they realize that they're going to perform better on these standardized test days if they are in fact not hungry."

Hiebert says Hunger Solutions would like to ensure that all kids in need of food get access to free lunch, but they are encouraged by the bill in Congress.

"With this investment, the schools will benefit from more reimbursement dollars, the kids will benefit with access to better, healthier foods, more locally grown, so it's good for local farming businesses as well. We think it's a win for everybody."

Last month, when the state announced a one-time grant opportunity for food shelves to expand children's summer nutrition programs, $3 million in grant requests flooded in for the $1 million in available funds.

Background on H.R. 5504 can be found at: edlabor.house.gov




get more stories like this via email

more stories
A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …


Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…


Nearly 13 million Americans receive health coverage through unique plans under both Medicare and Medicaid. They are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

Social Issues

play sound

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

Social Issues

play sound

A 2023 study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center concluded the number of Nebraskans with a mental health or substance abuse disorder has pr…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021