Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March as "National CACFP Week".

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1118 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1118

 Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March as 
                        ``National CACFP Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2026

 Ms. Bonamici (for herself, Mr. Mackenzie, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. 
    McGovern, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Davis of Illinois) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
                             and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March as 
                        ``National CACFP Week''.

Whereas the Department of Agriculture reaffirms the vital role positive 
        nutrition habits play in the healthy growth of children in the United 
        States;
Whereas the Department of Agriculture also recognizes the importance of 
        nutrition education for the most vulnerable and youngest children, as 
        well as adults, through care centers and homes throughout the United 
        States;
Whereas the child and adult care food program (commonly referred to as 
        ``CACFP'') provides meals and snacks to more than 4,500,000 children in 
        childcare centers, family daycare homes, emergency shelters, and after-
        school programs and 120,000 adults in adult daycare centers daily, 
        covering the costs of nearly 1,700,000,000 nutritious meals and snacks 
        each year;
Whereas research has found that participation in CACFP reduces the prevalence of 
        the conditions of underweight, overweight, or obesity in children, which 
        highlights the importance of healthful meal patterns along with accurate 
        nutrition education;
Whereas CACFP increases the quality of childcare, especially for children in 
        low-income communities;
Whereas CACFP increases the effectiveness and viability of Head Start programs, 
        childcare programs, including military childcare, and adult daycare 
        programs for many providers, especially in rural areas;
Whereas CACFP improves the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical health and 
        development of children, leading to more favorable outcomes such as--

    (1) a decreased likelihood of being hospitalized;

    (2) an increased likelihood of healthy weight gain; and

    (3) an increased likelihood of a more varied diet, including increased 
consumption of vegetables, meat, eggs, whole grains, and milk;

Whereas the innovative approach to CACFP implementation, which pairs Head Start 
        programs, childcare homes and centers, including military childcare, 
        adult daycare centers, emergency shelters, and after-school sites with 
        either a nonprofit sponsoring organization or a State agency, highlights 
        a unique public-private partnership that supports working families and 
        small businesses; and
Whereas the third week of March is annually recognized as ``National CACFP 
        Week'' to raise awareness of the child and adult care food program of 
        the Department of Agriculture: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the role of the child and adult care food 
        program (commonly referred to as ``CACFP'') in improving the 
        health of the country's most vulnerable children and adults in 
        Head Start programs, childcare programs, including military 
        childcare, family daycare homes, emergency shelters, adult 
        daycare programs, and after-school care by providing nutritious 
        meals and snacks;
            (2) urges support for continuing to strengthen CACFP by 
        offering reimbursement for an additional meal or snack for 
        children in care for a full day, reducing area eligibility from 
        50 percent to 40 percent, offering annual eligibility to for 
        profit childcare centers, factoring in annual food inflation 
        fairly for childcare regardless of setting, and reducing 
        administrative burdens to participation;
            (3) acknowledges that CACFP can, and should, be an 
        important tool in reducing the costs faced by the care economy, 
        including licensed or approved child or adult care; and
            (4) supports the designation of ``National CACFP Week''.
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