Legislative Action

Featured Alert

Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2009

Support Healthy School Meals
This year Congress will once again reauthorize the federal child nutrition programs, presenting a unique opportunity to make improvements to the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, as well as the other child nutrition programs. Please take a moment to send an email to key leaders in Congress calling for adequate funding for school meal reimbursements, national school nutrition standards and defining appropriate expenses for school meal programs.

More Information on the Need for Funding

More Action Alerts

Funds for Healthy School Meals

Enter your zip code here to send a short letter to the editor of local newspapers and media about healthy school meals, the need for adequate school nutrition funding, and the child nutrition reauthorization process.

More Information on the Need for Funding

National School Nutrition Standards

Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) reintroduced legislation that would give the Secretary of Agriculture the authority to set federal nutrition standards for the sale of foods sold outside of the federal school nutrition programs. Ask COngress to support H.R. 1324 and S. 934, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009.

Issues and Legislation

School Nutrition Equipment Funding Included in Stimulus 

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization of 2009

• President Obama Releases Detailed FY 2010 Budget Request May 2009
• S. 934 The Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 April 2009
• Update on Child Nutrition Related Bills in Congress April 2009
• HR 1324 The CHild Nutrition and School Lunch Protection Act of 2009 March 2009
• Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing from March 4, 2009
• SNA Comments to USDA on CN Reauthorization October, 2008
• Child Nutrition Forum Statement of Principles December 2008 - Sign Up Your Group Now!
• USDA Summary of Comments Received at 2008 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Listening Sessions 
• Intoduction to Reauthorization 09 Power Point for State Associations and Chapters, updated November 2008
• SNA Open Forum Discussion Board on Reauthorization  

National School Nutrition Standards
SNA has engaged in a dialogue with school nutrition professionals to advocate for national school nutrition standards for school meals and other foods and beverages available in schools. Resources and links relating to this effort can be accessed here.

• School Nutrition Association National Nutrition Standards (PDF)
• Institute of Medicine Review of National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program Meal Patterns and Nutrient Standards (school meals) 
• Institute of Medicine Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools (non-school meals) 

Legislation and Issues
Updated list of school nutrition related bills and legislation introduced in Congress.

Policies and Regulations

The school nutrition programs are operated through a federal, state, and local partnership.  All three areas of government set policies and regulations that affect how the programs are run.

Federal Legislation

• Child Nutrition Programs: Legislative History Highlights 
• Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (in Adobe Acrobat format)
• Public Law 108-265 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (in Adobe Acrobat format)
• Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act  (in Adobe Acrobat format)

Federal Regulations

• Regulations of the Department of Agriculture - Chapter II -- Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture 
• USDA School Meal Regulations Website 

State

 State Competitive Food Policies  (in Adobe Acrobat format)
SNA has created a database of state legislated competitive food standards.  Click on this link to see if your state has a policy in place.

State Reimbursement Rates and School Meal Mandates (in Adobe Acrobat format)
SNA provides a listing of states that provide reimbursement money to school districts over the federally required amount.  This listing also notes states that require school districts to provide school nutrition programs.

Local

Local School Wellness Policies 
One section of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires that all school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program have local wellness policies by July 1, 2006. The School Nutrition Association (formerly ASFSA) has put together tools to help assist the school community in dealing with this new requirement.

Grassroots

Learn the issues, use the resources, get active and make your voice heard.

• Find Your Elected Officials Look up all your elected officials using your zip code
• Cafeteria Site Visits 101 New toolkit that helps you host a member of Congress for lunch
• Election 2008 Congressional, state and presidential election information
• Capitol Hill Basics Communicating with elected officials
• Media Guide Locate and write local members of the press
• Legislative Toolkit Templates, tips and more