Congressional Efforts Heat Up on School Nutrition Issues

Members of Congress moved forward last week on efforts to make schools and students healthier. Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Christo¬pher Shays (R-CT) circulated a Dear Col¬league letter this week to round up more sup¬port for H.R. 1363, the Child Nutrition Promo¬tion and School Lunch Protection Act. School nutrition, which has not garnered much attention recently on Capitol Hill, received a brief victory this summer when the House included an expansion of a fruit and vegetable school program in the 2007 Farm Bill. Rep. Woolsey and her supporters are attempting to build off of those efforts to ensure a healthier student body in the United States.

H.R. 1363, and its Senate companion (S. 771), would revise the nutritional requirements of foods sold in schools. Those requirements would only affect food sold outside the federal lunch pro¬gram, such as vending machine snacks and other à la carte items. Rep. Woolsey, along with representatives from the Center for Science in the Public Interest and child-health advocate and actor Chevy Chase, held a briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the proposed legislation, and other efforts towards reducing the child obesity rates in the country. The New America Foundation’s Workforce and Family Program, the Foundation for Child Development and the offices of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are planning to continue the discussion next Thursday in Washington. Panelists will discuss obesity and child well-being, the role of government, and some innovative programs at the state and local levels that are making a difference in children’s health.

Sen. Harkin is also pushing to add the language of S. 771 to the Senate’s version of the 2007 Farm Bill, slated for committee hearings later this fall. The House Farm Bill did not contain the language of the bill, but did expand the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to operate in 35 schools in every state. The program provides all children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day. It is billed as an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. That expansion has not appeared in any draft language circulated by the Senate Agriculture Committee, but Sen. Harkin has assured advocates that school nutrition is a priority for the Senate as they work through the Farm Bill.

Resources:
Kris Kitto, “Legislators Push for Stricter Nutrition Standards in Schools,” Education Daily, September 28, 2007.
Author: SAS