Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March 2025 as "National CACFP Week".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 228
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Agriculture and Food
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-18: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-19T22:34:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 228) expresses congressional support for designating the third week of March 2025 as "National CACFP Week" to raise awareness of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federal initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in care settings.
Key Provisions
- Recognition of CACFP's Benefits: Affirms CACFP's role in promoting healthy nutrition for vulnerable children and adults in programs like Head Start, child care centers (including military child care), family day care homes, emergency shelters, adult day care centers, and after-school programs. It highlights how CACFP serves over 4.5 million children and 115,000 adults daily, providing nearly 1.7 billion meals and snacks annually, and supports positive health outcomes such as reduced obesity risks, better weight management, and improved cognitive and physical development.
- Urging Program Improvements: Encourages enhancements to CACFP, including reimbursing an extra meal or snack for full-day care, lowering the eligibility threshold for area-based participation from 50% to 40%, allowing annual eligibility for for-profit child care centers, adjusting reimbursements for food inflation, and reducing administrative hurdles to make participation easier.
- Acknowledgment of Broader Role: Notes CACFP as a tool to lower costs in the care economy, supporting licensed or approved child and adult care services, especially in low-income and rural communities, through public-private partnerships.
- Support for Awareness Week: Endorses the annual observance of National CACFP Week to educate the public on the program's importance.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws or regulations. As a non-binding House resolution, it serves as an expression of support and does not amend statutes, create new mandates, or allocate funds.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: May encourage the Department of Agriculture to prioritize CACFP expansions or administrative simplifications, potentially influencing future budget or policy decisions without direct enforcement.
- On Citizens: Could increase public awareness of nutrition programs, benefiting low-income families, children in care, and elderly adults by highlighting access to affordable healthy meals, which may indirectly support better health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs related to poor nutrition.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the resolution focuses on domestic U.S. programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Children and Adults in Care: Primary beneficiaries, including over 4.5 million children in child care, after-school, and emergency settings, and 115,000 adults in day care, particularly those from low-income or rural backgrounds.
- Care Providers and Organizations: Child care centers, family homes, Head Start programs, military child care, adult day care facilities, emergency shelters, nonprofit sponsors, and small businesses that rely on CACFP reimbursements for viability.
- Families and Communities: Working families, especially in underserved areas, who gain from improved child care quality and nutrition education.
- Government Entities: U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies administering CACFP, as well as Congress, which may use this resolution to build support for program funding.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Lacks binding authority, so it has no enforceable legal effects but could serve as a reference in future legislative debates on nutrition policy.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's role in expressing policy preferences under Article I, without infringing on executive or judicial powers.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan interest (introduced by Representatives Bonamici and Norton) in child welfare and nutrition, potentially signaling support for strengthening federal food assistance programs amid ongoing discussions on child care affordability and health equity. It fosters public-private collaboration without partisan controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Cosponsors (4)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-18: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-03-18: Submitted in House
- 2025-03-18: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing support for the designation of the third week of March 2025 as "National CACFP Week". — issued 2025-03-18 — PDF (3 pages)