Statement by Edward J. McElroy,
Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers,
on the Child Nutritional Improvement and Integrity Act

Washington, D.C. -- Today House Republicans and Democrats showed bipartisan cooperation by passing the Child Nutritional Improvement and Integrity Act, which will improve access to nutritious meals at school for eligible low-income children.

Rep. Michael Castle (R-Del.), the bill’s sponsor, along with Chairman John Boehner (R-Ohio) of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, ranking member George Miller (D-Calif.) and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), worked together to craft a bill ensuring that needy children continue to receive these important benefits. The bill will make it easier for disadvantaged families to enroll in school lunch and other child nutritional programs, and will reduce some of the burdens on schools delivering these meals.

AFT looks forward to working with the Senate to make additional improvements in the bill as it moves forward in the legislative process.

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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.