Expressing support for designation of March as National Nutrition Month.

Madam Speaker, I stand before you today in support of H. Res. 274 ``Expressing support for designation of March as National Nutrition Month.''

I would like to begin by thanking my colleague Representative Kathy Castor for introducing this resolution in the House of Representatives, as it is important that we acknowledge and recognize the importance of good nutrition toward maintaining a healthy and productive nation.

Furthermore, it is important that we continue to educate and encourage our local communities to raise their awareness of nutritional health and encourage an expanded knowledge within the community regarding the benefits of proper nutrition. By improving nutrition standards within our communities we can help support people in their efforts toward living a long, healthy and productive life.

Unfortunately, obesity and poor nutrition among citizens is especially prevalent in my home city of Houston, Texas. For years Houston has been consistently rated as the ``fattest city in America.'' Currently, 58 percent of adults and 39 percent of children are classified as overweight or obese in the Greater Houston community. This resolution would also seek to help the people of my district in Houston by raising the awareness of nutritional health issues.

It is estimated that since 1980, obesity rates for adults have doubled and obesity rates for children have nearly tripled due to poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles in the United States. Furthermore, four of the top ten causes of death including heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes have been attributed to factors surrounding a person's nutrition and diet. These four health conditions are estimated to cost the United States over $600 billion each year in medical expenses and lost productivity.

These are several of the major factors highlighting the importance of good nutrition in our nation. It also shows the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. In conjunction with good nutrition, it is also important that citizens take on healthy physical activity on a regular basis to maintain good health.

These health and nutrition factors take an even greater level of importance when we discuss the effects of nutrition on our nation's children. Poor nutrition and lack of exercise in school-age children has been shown to cause a decrease in academic performance in addition to behavioral problems. In younger children, poor nutrition can manifest itself in more severe ways. Lack of proper nutrition also makes young children more prone to illness and disease and inhibits children's cognitive development.

Furthermore it is important that we recognize the gaps in school lunch programs at public schools. The National School Lunch Program was designed to provide low cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies given to schools. In many school districts however, this poses a problem as children are only in school around 180 days out of the year. How is this federally mandated program supposed to adequately provide for and supplement children's diets when it is only available to them for half of the year?

It is vitally important that we work together as a nation to improve nutrition standards across the board; particularly for children and the elderly. It is appalling to me that children still go hungry in this great nation and it is our duty to ensure that all children receive proper nutrition in addition to great physical education in schools.

Officially establishing the month of March as ``National Nutrition Month'' would seek to improve the lives of our citizens as well as increase our citizen's awareness of the importance of good nutrition in living a healthy and productive life. Furthermore, by providing education and instruction to adults and children alike, we can help to ensure that the United States continues to serve as a model of balanced nutrition to the world.

I ask my colleagues for their support of this legislation as well as their support for the improving nutrition across our country. I strongly urge you to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 274) expressing support for designation of March as National Nutrition Month.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material therein.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

We are going to continue to work for a healthier America, and this year marks the 30th year that March is celebrated as National Nutrition Month. The National Nutrition Month campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices, developing sound eating habits, and promoting exercise in our daily lives.

The first nutrition campaign was launched in 1973, with the Presidential proclamation as National Nutrition Week, and became National Nutrition Month in 1980. I am especially proud to support National Nutrition Month, as First Lady Michelle Obama has just recently launched the Let's Move campaign to target childhood obesity.

This initiative has four components: One, making healthy choices; two, putting healthy foods in schools; three, increasing access and affordability of healthy foods; and, four, increasing physical education.

Good nutrition and healthy eating habits play a fundamental role in the overall health of both children and adults. The Children's Health Care Caucus, which I am proud to co-Chair with my Republican colleague Congressman Dave Reichert of Washington, is helping to raise awareness regarding good nutrition and healthy eating habits and how they improve the lives of all Americans. Poor nutrition and sedentary lifestyles are linked to obesity and countless health problems.

Today, one-third of adults in the United States are obese. Can you believe that? And childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1980. In my home State of Florida, one-third of children in our State are overweight or obese, and that is a statistic that replays itself in every State across America.

In my Tampa Bay area community, in Hillsborough County, more than 80 percent of children are not getting the recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables. So we have a lot of work to do.

Dietary factors are associated with four of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. These health conditions are estimated to cost the United States over $6 billion annually in medical expenses and lost productivity. We can do better.

Parents, you must focus on healthy choices for your children. You must become good role models for your kids.

For children, poor nutrition, inactivity, and weight issues can often lead to low academic performance or behavioral problems resulting in additional costs. Proper nutrition helps to fight illnesses, and it is vital to our children's cognitive development.

House Resolution 274 designates March as National Nutrition Month and encourages communities all across America to increase awareness about nutritional health.

Additionally, this resolution recognizes the hard work of registered dieticians and health care professionals that help to educate communities about good nutrition.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to a champion for children from the Education and Labor Committee and the State of California, Congresswoman Woolsey.

I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Madam Speaker, at this time, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to one of the experts on nutrition in the Congress, Congresswoman Dahlkemper from Pennsylvania.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Congressman Terry from the Energy and Commerce Committee, and urge my colleagues to support this House resolution designating March as National Nutrition Month.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank Madam Castor for her good leadership.

It is our job as adults to help children make the right decisions about everything, particularly about eating healthy and nutritious foods, because what they eat has a powerful impact on how they learn, how they grow, and how they thrive.

Children who have nutritious meals at home and in schools are more likely to get the most out of their education and to stay on a path toward a healthy lifestyle. We here in this Congress, we as adults, we as parents and grandparents have a responsibility to support good nutrition for all children, for teenagers, for adults, which is why I am proud to rise today as a cosponsor of H. Res. 274, which expresses strong support for designating March as National Nutrition Month.

Today, 23 million children and adolescents are obese or overweight. Obesity rates for children between 6 and 11 years old have more than quadrupled over the last 40 years. Throughout

their lives, these children are at a much greater risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and social and psychological problems. Enabling children to make healthy choices is a smart down payment on supporting healthy future generations.

I commend the President, and I commend the First Lady and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack for continuing to champion a strong investment in our children's nutrition programs and working with me to ensure that the only foods in schools will be healthy foods based on current nutrition science, and that only healthy foods are sold in the schools throughout the day.

Madam Speaker, it is time to update our nutrition standards for food sold in vending machines----

Because those standards haven't changed for the last 30 years, standards for a la carte lines for school snacks and for outside vending machines.

All of this has to do with meeting obesity head on.

Recognizing the month of March as National Nutrition Month will shine a light on the problems of obesity and poor nutrition in this country. So I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Castor, for introducing this important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing it today.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

On behalf of the ranking member and the Energy and Commerce Committee, I rise in support of H. Res. 274, supporting the designation of March as National Nutrition Month.

Over the last 20 years, obesity rates have been steadily increasing in the United States. According to the CDC, in 2008, 32 States had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 25 percent. Six of these States--Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia--had a prevalence of obesity equal or greater than 30 percent. I am glad that my home State of Nebraska is not on this, but we have been shoveling enough snow that our children are getting some exercise.

Obesity rates among children and adolescents are especially staggering and have led to increasing health problems such as diabetes and heart disease among this population. Poor nutrition habits and sedentary lifestyle both have been linked with many of the obesity and health problems that afflict Americans today. Many dietary factors have led to conditions such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. But through proper nutrition, regular exercise, and controlling weight problems, these threats to our health are far less likely to occur.

It is important for Americans to recognize the significance of monitoring their own eating habits and that of their family. Proper nutrition, exercise, and healthy living could help lead to lower obesity rates, fewer medical expenses, and increased productivity.

I stand in support of this resolution and hope that my colleagues will join me.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 274, supporting March as National Nutrition Month.

Madam Speaker, for over 25 years I served as a clinical dietitian helping hospitals, schools, and other organizations prepare healthy menus and emphasizing good nutrition, good diet and long-term wellness.

National Nutrition Month is an important tool for health and wellness advocates across the country. Every year, we as dietitians and those in the health care field use this designation to promote nutritious diets and to educate people about healthy eating habits. Proper nutrition and healthy eating are essential to improving our Nation's long-term health and to lowering the rate of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Madam Speaker, I call upon my colleagues to support House Resolution 274 to help make healthy living a national priority.