Apportionment by States of funds available for the national school lunch program, fiscal year 1958-Continued

Wisconsin.
Wyoming.

1 United States per capita income ($1,847) divided by State per capita income, except
for Guam, Puerto, Rico, and the Virgin Islands which are assigned the same per capita
income index as Mississippi in accordance with the amendment to section 4 of the Na-
tional School Lunch Act. This amendment provides that the apportionment to Guam,
Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands shall not exceed 3 percent of the funds appropriated
except that in the case of the first apportionment from any annual or supplemental ap-
propriation, the apportionment to Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands shall not
be less than that amount which will result in an allotment per child of school age equal
to the allotment per child of school age in the State (other than Guam, Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands) having the lowest per capita income among the States participating
in such first apportionments.

Northeast:

Number of children and schools participating, fiscal year 1957 1

Number of children and schools participating, fiscal year 1957 1—Continued

2 Source: Latest data available from the U. S. Office of Education. Enrollment data for public schools is for fall 1956. Private school enrollment is for 1953-54.

3 December 1956. The number of schools and children may have been higher in some States during other months but December was the peak month in terms of children participating nationally.

Mr. WHITTEN. Next is the School Lunch Program. Do you have a general statement, Mr. Lennartson?

PROGRESS AND STATUS OF THE SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

Mr. LENNARTSON. No, Mr. Chairman, however, I might make just a few opening comments, and then we will be glad to answer questions. I have with me Mr. Garber, who is Director of the Food Distribution Division, which is directly responsible for the national school lunch program administration and also his deputy, Mr. Howard Davis. Both of them are very well qualified to answer any of the technical questions that might arise.

In Dr. Paarlberg's opening statement, you will probably recall his comments with respect to the activities of the AMS on expanding markets and other activities for increasing consumption of the production of American farms. In the national school lunch program, we probably have one of the outstanding instruments in that regard and also a program which is doing a multitude of good by way of developing healthier children, and developing better eating habits on the part of those children.

Also, this program is being increasingly used by the school superintendents and the teachers as a means of properly educating the children with respect to food habits, behavior at the table, and things of that nature. That is becoming extremely well rounded in that respect. This is the 11th year of the program, during which period it has made tremendous progress.

OVERALL $856 MILLION PROGRAM

As a matter of interest, I think it should be pointed out that in 1958, the overall program will involve estimated expenditures of $856 million. This includes both the Federal contribution and the funds made available by States or through payments on the part of the children for the lunches at the local level.

Of this $856 million-and, incidentally, the great bulk of it is spent

for food-about 28.5 percent is contributed by the Federal Government in one way or another.

This includes the $100 million appropriation to which we are addressing ourselves at this time; and, incidentally, we are requesting the same level of expenditures in the budget for the next fiscal year. From this $100 million appropriation, $83,600,000 is made directly available in terms of cash to the States for distribution to the local schools. Approximately $15 million is withheld by the Department and used for the purchase of a variety of nutritous foods important in certain calory and vitamin contents.

The foods purchased with this $15 million are generally selected on basis of priority given on the part of the States themselves as to the types of foods to be purchased and the quantities desired.

Generally, about two-thirds of that $15 million are devoted to purchase of such canned items as citrus juices, fruits, and outstanding vegetables such as peas, beans, and tomatoes.

An additional one-third is generally used for the purchase of protein-type items. In the current year, we have been purchasing ground beef for the schools, which has been the most popular item that they have requested.

SURPLUS FOODS

In addition to the $100 million appropriation in 1958, it has been estimated that the Department will make available approximately $76 million in surplus foods, including such items as butter, cheese, dry skimmed milk, beans, corn, meal, and flour. The value of those foods, as I indicated, should approximate about $76 million.

SPECIAL SCHOOL MILK PROGRAM

Then finally, there is the additional item of the special school milk program which this year will amount to approximately $69 million.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S CONTRIBUTION

Thus, the Federal Government's contribution in 1958 will equal approximately $243 million including the appropriation of $100 million, the estimated $76 million in surplus food commodities, and the approximately $69 million coming from the special milk fund.

EXTENT OF STATES PARTICIPATION

The balance-an estimated $612 million-comes from local sources, States' contributions directly to the programs in the State, local contributions on the part of the county commissioners, service clubs, and organizations of that nature; also local school boards and children's payments.

But, of course, the main local source of funds is the money that the children pay directly for the meals they are consuming.

It

The program is continuing to grow year by year. This year it is estimated at this time that approximately an additional million children will be added to the program over the school year of 1956-57. is estimated that approximately 102 million children will participate in the program in this particular school year.

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