Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Floor Speech

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

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Madam Speaker, the legislation before us includes many important improvements to the child nutrition programs that millions of our nation's children rely on for daily nutrition. As a result of this bill, it will be easier for children in low-income families to get the meals they need. Just as important, the meals they get will be healthier.

The provisions included in the bill have important ramifications for Latino children in particular. Latino children currently make up more than one in five children in the U.S. and are the fastest-growing segment of the child population. Latino children are also the hungriest in America--making up almost 40 percent of the children struggling against hunger. They are more than four times as likely as white children to be food insecure and hungry. Ironically, they also have one of the highest risks for obesity.

Latino families often experience barriers to participation in federal programs based on language access issues. The number of children who speak English as a second language has grown over the years and families who struggle with English proficiency are now located in many parts of the country where there is no mechanism in place to meet their language access needs. School districts in these areas need guidance and support to help them communicate effectively with parents who do not speak English fluently. Such guidance and support will ensure that eligible children receive the proper nutrition they need during the day through the school meals program. It is of the utmost importance that all eligible children have access to the federal food assistance programs regardless of what language their parents speak or whether their parents can read. Access to our meal programs is essential no matter what language is spoken at home.

Six years ago, in the last reauthorization of the child nutrition programs, Congress clarified that program administrators must communicate with parents in a manner that they can understand. Congress set a clear standard, but left it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement that standard by explaining to school districts and other program operators what they must do to live up to it. To date, USDA has failed to provide this guidance.

As a result, the 16,000 plus school districts in the U.S. have been left to interpret the statutory terms themselves. While the method of assistance to families may differ across states and localities, the federal standards for the level of service should be consistent. In the absence of federal guidance, it is likely that many school districts will not know that a standard exists and may fail to comply. USDA needs to offer guidance so that there is consistency in implementation around the country. There is no reason why a Romanian-speaking parent in Florida, for example, should have more or less help with applying for school meals than a Romanian-speaking parent in Michigan.

School districts are well-positioned to comply with Congress' requirement. They routinely identify the language spoken in the homes of their students. Moreover, for other school matters, they are already required to communicate with parents in a language they can understand. That standard applies to communications regarding the school meals program as well. But school districts need additional direction and support from USDA and states. I urge USDA to clarify when written translations must be used, when oral interpretation will suffice, and how to communicate with parents with limited literacy.

USDA could also strengthen implementation of Congress' standard by supplementing policy guidance with technical assistance. USDA already provides support by making available school meals enrollment materials in 25 languages. School districts around the country need to know where to find these materials and how to obtain oral interpretation services if written materials are not available. USDA could identify and share best practices so that school districts in geographic areas that are experiencing an influx of families who do not speak English fluently will have resources to help them best serve all families with children attending their schools.

Moreover, USDA needs to hold school districts accountable for compliance. For example, school districts could be required to have a written plan in place explaining how families with limited English proficiency will be served. Plus, all reviews of state and local program operations should include a review of compliance with the requirements related to communications with households.

It is unfortunate that several years after Congress took action to ensure that communications with families would be understandable to all families, regardless of what language is spoken at home, we still have so far to go. I call on the USDA to take action quickly to fully implement these standards. Every eligible child should be able to get the healthy meals that the federal government provides and language should not be a barrier to good nutrition. Congress, USDA, states, and school districts must continue to work together to make that goal a reality.

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