You know there’s something really crazy with the way we approach food in this country when 1 in 4 U.S. children stand on the brink of hunger AND 1 in 3 children are obese or overweight.

We finally have a chance to change this!

This month the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill would make historic improvements in school and child care nutrition to address both childhood hunger and obesity. But there’s a problem: Between disastrous oil spills and the upcoming elections, Congress has a lot on its mind, and child nutrition could slip between the cracks.

What exactly does the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act do?

It’s a comprehensive update and reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.  It funds and updates programs like the National School Lunch Program  and WIC, which provides access to nutritious foods to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children.  It also funds the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) which helps ensure kids in child care get access to nutritious meals and snacks. In today's economy more and more families rely on school lunches, WIC, and CACFP as their only source of meals.

But this isn’t just a reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.  If passed, this new bill would also:

• Increase children’s access to healthy school breakfast.

• Finally remove junk food from school vending machines, school stores and a la carte lines.

• Provide schools with over $300 million a year in new reimbursements for school lunches (the first increase in over 30 years).

• Make improvements to nutrition and physical activity in schools and child care settings.

• Increase the number of eligible children enrolled in the school lunch programs.

We can’t let this legislation be dropped in the back and forth of political football. Please take a moment to remind Congress that families are counting on them.

Together, we are a powerful voice for families!