Calling on the President and the Secretary of Education to fire Kevin Jennings from his post as "Safe Schools Czar".

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 966 that will designate September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and raise awareness around addressing childhood obesity.

As this public health crisis continues to grow, we can point to a host of factors that are complicating efforts to reduce childhood obesity such as: prominent advertising of unhealthy foods, the popularity of big-portions meals that are high in calories and fat accompanied with sugary beverages, spending more time in front of the television and sedentary electronic games and fewer school physical education programs. Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. A recent CDC report found that about 14 percent of low- income, pre-school-aged children in the Virgin Islands are obese, which is also the U.S. average.

Childhood obesity disproportionately affects low-income and minority children. Obesity rates are higher in African American, Native American, and Mexican American adolescents than in White adolescents. Type 2 diabetes is disproportionately seen in Hispanic, Native American, and African American adolescents.

Children that live in low-income neighborhoods often do not have access to recreational facilities, parks, or even sidewalks to walk on, limiting virtually any possibility of being physically active.

They often don't have access to grocery stores to buy fruits and vegetables; rather gathering their nutritional content from fast food restaurants and convenience stores. These food deserts are prevalent in poor communities all over the country.

As a physician I have also seen the adult consequences of childhood obesity: overweight and obese children grow up to be overweight or obese adults at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, and some cancers--all of which are increasing exponentially, especially in communities of color.

The time to intervene is now! We must continue to champion legislation and initiatives that will reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity. So on behalf of our Nation's youth, I support this resolution that will bring awareness to this epidemic in hopes of securing brighter, healthier futures for children all across the country.