Paula James, director of the Contra Costa Child Care Council Child Health and Nutrition Program will testify Wednesday at a House Education and Labor Committee hearing on the effects of rising food prices on child nutrition.

Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, is the committee chairman.

At the hearing, lawmakers will hear how rising food costs are making it harder for the nation’s child nutrition and school meal programs to provide healthy, low-cost meals for children.

Nationwide, according to Miller’s office, nearly 50 million children are served by federal child nutrition programs, which include school lunch programs, childcare programs and summer food programs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, whole grain breads, milk, and cheese prices increased by as much as 17 percent in 2007, and the costs of fresh fruits and vegetables are also up.

Other particpants include Scott Faber, vice president for Federal Affairs, Grocery Manufacturers Association; James Harnett, president and CEO of the Family and Children’s Association of New York;Kate Houston, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Ephraim Leibtag, Economist, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service; Pavel N. Matustik, chief administrative Officer, Santa Clarita Valley School Food Services Agency of Santa Clarita; and Katie Wilson, president-elect of the School Nutrition Association and food and nutrition coordinator for the Onalaska School District of Wisconsin

The hearing begins at 10 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.