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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Raising awareness about the nutritional needs of |
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young Americans and the availability of the School Breakfast |
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Program are the goals of National School Breakfast Week, which is |
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being held March 7-11, 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, The School Breakfast Program was initially |
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established in 1966 as a two-year pilot project geared toward |
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schools located in poor areas or at a great distance from where many |
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of their students lived; the pilot project was extended several |
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times before Congress permanently authorized the program in 1975 |
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for "all schools where it is needed to provide adequate nutrition |
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for children in attendance"; and |
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WHEREAS, Eating a nutritious breakfast on a daily basis helps |
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children maintain a healthy weight, and there is an established |
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link between the first meal of the day and academic success; studies |
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have shown improved student performance on standardized tests for |
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those eating breakfast closer to the start of class time, and |
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participation in the program has also been shown to reduce |
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absenteeism and tardiness; and |
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WHEREAS, School Breakfast Program meals meet federal dietary |
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guidelines, and Texas farmers and ranchers provide many of the |
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items served; more than 1,000 school districts and over 7,000 |
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schools in the state are involved in the program, which serves an |
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average of nearly 1.4 million young people each day; and |
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WHEREAS, Often called the most important meal of the day, |
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breakfast provides the nutrients and energy that students need to |
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perform their best, and the School Breakfast Program has made a |
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positive difference in the lives of needy children and their |
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families for more than four decades; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 7-11, 2011, as National School |
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Breakfast Week and encourage Texans to learn more about this |
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worthwhile effort. |