Tuesday Morning - December 15, 2020 An Update on Federal and State Policy Issuesfrom SNA Table of Contents COVID-19 Policy Updates USDA FNS Summer Food Service Program Monitoring Waiver Federal Policy Save the Date for the 49th Legislative Action Conference: March 8-10, 2021 Tom Vilsack to Serve as USDA Secretary Under Biden Administration TAKE ACTION: Proposed Rule to Restore Flexibilities State Snapshots State Breakdown of Child Nutrition Program Waivers Mark Your Calendars Upcoming SNA Webinar Congressional Management Foundation Webinar Mystery Chat Corner COVID-19 Policy Updates USDA FNS Summer Food Service Program Monitoring Waiver On December 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) posted the SFSP Monitoring Waiver, waiving the requirement that the state agency annually review a number of sponsors whose program reimbursements, in aggregate, account for at least one-half of the total program reimbursements in the state in the previous year. Back to the top School nutrition professionals know hunger doesn’t take a break. Schools across the country are providing grab-and-go meal packs despite the holidays, ensuring students continue to be nourished and are ready to learn when they return in the new year. Federal Policy Save the Date for the 49th Legislative Action Conference: March 8-10, 2021 Mark your calendars for the 49th Legislative Action Conference, March 8-10, 2021—a virtual event—to experience The Power of One: The Impact of Many. Stay tuned for more details about this exciting event! SNA will send out an announcement when registration opens for #LAC21. Back to the top Tom Vilsack to Serve as USDA Secretary Under Biden Administration On Thursday, December 19, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced a slate of new Cabinet picks for his Administration including Tom Vilsack, who will serve as Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack previously served as Secretary of Agriculture under President Barack Obama’s Administration, when the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act was enacted. Back to the top TAKE ACTION: Proposed Rule to Restore Flexibilities USDA FNS has announced proposed regulations to restore flexibilities for milk, whole grain and sodium requirements in the school meal programs. These proposed regulations were issued directly following the recission of flexibilities previously provided in 2018. Submit your comments urging USDA to restore flexibilities. TAKE ACTION! Back to the top State Snapshots State Breakdown of Child Nutrition Program Waivers USDA FNS provides this interactive map listing all COVID-19 child nutrition waivers issued to each state. Back to the top Mark Your Calendars Upcoming SNA Webinar This Wednesday, join us for our Webinar Wednesday and learn about food allergy management during the pandemic. If you missed a particular webinar, catch up with SNA’s on-demand webinars. School Nutrition, Food Allergies & Food Insecurity in the Pandemic Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 3:00 pm ET In this session, speakers will review the basics of food allergy management during the pandemic based on expert guidance; the intersection of food insecurity and food allergies; and the role of the school nutrition team. Webinar contributors will include: Sherry Coleman Collins, a registered dietitian, former school nutrition professional, and expert in food allergy management, who will review the latest guidance from AAAAI on managing food allergies during the pandemic; Emily Brown, president of Food Equality Initiative and the mother of a child with food allergies who works to help advocate for families managing food allergies; and Jeremy Bergman, Food Service Director of the New Castle (Pa.) Area Schools, who will share best practices and practical considerations for managing food allergens during the pandemic. Back to the top Congressional Management Foundation Webinar Freshmen Spotlight - How to Build Relationships with New Members of Congress Tuesday, December 15, 2020, 1:00 pm ET Many advocates woke up on November 4, 2020, to discover that their long-standing champions for their cause have been sent packing, causing a scramble to cultivate new Congressional proponents on the Hill. During this webinar, participants will explore what it is like to set up and work in a freshman Congressional office, what common mistakes advocates make when meeting new members, and how advocates can adjust their tactics when building relationships with new members. This webinar will be conducted by CMF's Brad Fitch, President & CEO, and Seth Turner, Director of Citizen Engagement. Back to the top Mystery Chat Corner On this day in 1791, the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution were ratified. These amendments were originally known as... A: The Bill of Rights Back to the top