(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) released the following statement Wednesday on Gov. Christie’s plans to eliminate state funding for the school breakfast program:
“These difficult economic times have brought the threat of hunger to more and more families, including many who likely never thought they were going to have to face this problem.
“But hunger has also always been a problem, with an estimated 10 million American children going to school hungry each day, impairing their ability to succeed in school as they struggle against malnutrition.
“The Englewood school district alone serves 537 breakfast meals daily, with 74 percent doing so for free because their families cannot afford it.
“This is not only an investment in public health, but an investment in our future. These children come from our poorest families, and these meals may be the only nutrition they get on a regular basis.
“Yet Gov. Christie’s budget proposal would eliminate state funding for free and reduced-cost breaking and lunch programs, compromising an already difficult future for children who live in poverty.
“We can do better as a state, and I hope to see this cut reversed. I urge all residents to contact the governor’s office to express their concern about this cut and what it would mean for the education of our poorest children.”
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