[OKC] FW: New and Improved Lunch Standards: Request of Congress Important to Education of Oklahoma Children

[Shauna Lawyer Struby]

More fyi .

 

From: Eric Bradshaw [mailto:Eric.Bradshaw at okhouse.gov] 
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 12:32 PM
To: Eric Bradshaw
Subject: New and Improved Lunch Standards: Request of Congress Important to Education of Oklahoma
Children

 



 

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Media Division

August 4, 2010

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: State Rep. Richard Morrissette, District 92

Capitol: (405) 823-5386

 

 New and Improved Lunch Standards:

Request of Congress Important to Education of Oklahoma Children

 

OKLAHOMA CITY - In light of the release of the 2010 Kids Count Data Book report and yesterday's
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Vital Signs" report, state Rep. Richard Morrisette is
calling upon his colleagues to prepare to reprioritize their legislative agendas for the coming
session.

            "I want them to prepare to take on poor child health in Oklahoma, treating it as the
emergency that it has been left to become," Morrisette, D-Oklahoma City, said. "In ranking our 'Top
8' bills in order of importance, nutrition must supplant even education for the sake of education."

            Oklahoma children cannot be properly educated when recent studies indicate that Oklahoma
has the second-worst rate of child-brain development in the U.S., Morrisette said. That poor rate is
due in part to the negligible intake of essential foods necessary to grow a healthy human brain.
Oklahoma continues to rank 50th in fruit and vegetable consumption. 

            On Monday, First Lady Michelle Obama appealed to Congress for new and improved school
lunch nutrition standards. In Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties, 90 percent of students partake of free or
reduced lunch programs as their only meal of the day, according to applications that also reveal a
startling increase in child poverty within the state's two most heavily populated areas.

            Nearly 40 percent of all Oklahoma children are now obese, a form of malnutrition, with a
greater percentage symptomatic of conditions related to nutrition deprivation, according to health
agency accounts.

            On July 21, 2010, the Oklahoman reported that Oklahoma City Public elementary schools
are the beneficiary of a $1 million federal grant to provide students with a healthy afternoon snack
consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables. 

            "Being second highest in poor brain development is a stat we must conquer," Morrisette
said. "Until we can get the standards for lunches raised, this is good news in that direction.

            "I recently heard Dr. Susan Shepherd of Doctors Without Borders speak of how poor
nutrition robs kids from around the world of a productive future. She spoke of how much of the food
that agencies provide the poor has an inadequate processed corn or soy base and that their group has
developed a better supplement - in snack form - that has spared thousands poor brain development and
chronic physical health problems. I intend to look into this product and to access what we need for
Oklahoma children in poverty.

            "I'm appreciative of every federal tax dollar donated to feed our kids, but I don't like
the idea that citizens from other states are continually called upon for a rescue. At the national
level, our Oklahoma U.S. delegation has done little to guide our state away from this shameful and
inhumane reality, scoring another voting zero for child health legislation this session. With
passive approval, we have set the next generation of Oklahomans up to not develop an ability to
depend upon themselves but rather an unhealthy expectation of state and federal entitlement.

            "Next session, I plan to bring a House Resolution encouraging local businesses to
develop alliances with schools to create healthy ways for kids who want to help others despite their
own lack of resources. To receive help and then to be able to give help in return redeems the spirit
and restores self respect.

            "The latest CDC report indicates that nine states have obesity rates greater than 30
percent and Oklahoma is one of the nine. We simply place NO importance on health and our kids are
allowed to be considered collateral damage, as we abdicate our responsibility for them to others. A
new and improved future begins not with education but with adequate nutrition, the foundation for
learning capability."

 

Rep. Richard Morrissette serves South Oklahoma City, District 92

 

-30-

 

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