'I ask why they don't have any energy, and they say they haven't had enough to eat,' Jackson said. 'Then I talk to their mothers and they tell me there's no food in the house. It breaks my heart every day,' says program director Rita Jackson."Washington Post

1 in 4 children in our nation are on the brink of hunger; and we need to fight together to get them help right away.  Passing the Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act would be a big step forward for hungry kids by helping programs like Jackson's ensure that millions more children across our country have access to healthy foods.

Sadly, passage of this bill isn't a slam-dunk.  We've got to redouble our efforts to end child hunger in America.  Thanks to your 18,000 letters, the U.S. Senate is actively considering this bill, and now the House is poised to consider it as well.  But this fight is just beginning.

Urge your Representative to make sure children have access to healthy foods as soon as possible: http://action.momsrising.org/cms/letter/action_969/

How this bill will help: The Access to Nutritious Meals for Young Children Act will strengthen the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) by adding meal or snack options for children who need them, helping cover the cost of more meals for children who are in care for longer hours, and making more child care providers eligible for assistance.

Why does improving children's access to healthy foods matter now more than ever? More moms are returning to work and more parents are working two jobs to make ends meet, so more children are in child care. For many children, a child care program is their primary source of food. Studies show that children who were malnourished as babies and young children can suffer lasting behavioral and cognitive issues, including slower language development and lower grades. With 1 in 4 U.S. children on the brink of hunger and the ever-increasing cost of nutritious foods, strengthening the CACFP now is crucial.