Iowa Lt. Governor Judge Calls On Iowa House To Pass Healthy Kids Act

Judge: We need this legislation, and we need it now!

April 10, 2008 -- Rep. Art Staed and Sen. Staci Appel listen as Lt. Governor Patty Judge speaks at the Healthy Kids Press Conference on April 10, 2008. DES MOINES – Today, Lt. Governor Patty Judge called on the Iowa House of Representatives to move the Healthy Kids Act to the floor for a vote before the end of the legislative session.

Snack selections from a public school vending machine: Photo by Julian Bleeckr (CC)

“With limited time before the session ends, the window for action is quickly beginning to close,” said the Lt. Governor. “We cannot let this happen. We need this legislation and we need it now. Today, I am calling on the House to bring this bill to a vote and move it to the Governor’s desk for his signature. We owe it to our children.”

Lt. Governor Judge was joined by Sen. Staci Appel, who sponsored the legislation in the Iowa Senate, and Reps. Art Staed and Mary Mascher, who are championing the bill in the House. In addition, the Lt. Governor was joined by Dr. Edward Hertko – a physician who has worked extensively on juvenile diabetes, and Jim Hallihan, the Executive Director of the Iowa Sports Foundation.

Senate File 2279 – also known as the Healthy Kids Act – passed out of the Senate last month. The legislation calls for removing unhealthy food from Iowa’s schools and requires each Area Education Agency to hire a nutritionist to help school districts prepare healthy lunch menus. In addition, the legislation also sets physical activity requirements to get Iowa’s students moving during the course of a school week.

Lt. Governor Patty Judge speaks at the Healthy Kids Press Conference on April 10, 2008. Sen. Staci Appel, Jim Hallihan, Rep. Mary Mascher, Dr. Ed Hertko look on.Over the past 30 years, the number of children who are overweight and obese has more than doubled, and the current generation of children is the first to have a lower life expectancy than the one that came before it.

“In Iowa, we have made a commitment to give our children every opportunity to reach their fullest potential,” the Lt. Governor said. “The ‘Healthy Kids Act’ will help us fulfill this commitment. By getting our children moving and teaching them the value of nutrition, we will give them a solid foundation for a better future.”

Source: Iowa Governor's office

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