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SNA Applauds President Obama’s Proposed $1 Billion Increase for Child Nutrition Programs
2010-02-01
As Congress Prepares to Reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act President and First Lady’s Support Emphasizes Need
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (February 1, 2010) – Following the release of President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2011 budget, which includes a $1 billion increase for child nutrition programs, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) applauded the President and First Lady Michelle Obama for their commitment to strengthening the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.
President Obama’s budget increase for school meals and First Lady Michelle Obama’s new childhood obesity initiative highlight the importance of school nutrition issues just as Congress prepares to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act.
“The President and First Lady recognize how crucial school meals are to the health and academic success of America’s children, and school foodservice professionals commend the Administration’s commitment to strengthening under-funded school nutrition programs,” said School Nutrition Association President Dora Rivas, MS, RD, SNS, and executive director of Food and Child Nutrition Services for the Dallas Independent School District in Texas. “With Child Nutrition Reauthorization approaching, Congress has a critical opportunity to enhance the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs for 31 million American children who benefit from school meals each day.”
SNA has been calling on Congress to increase the school meal reimbursement to keep pace with rising costs and provide school lunch rooms with the support they need to expand offerings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Later this month, as part of SNA’s Legislative Action Conference (LAC), approximately 1,000 school nutrition professionals will convene on Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and raise their voices in support of school nutrition issues. LAC, which runs from February 28 to March 3, will also feature speeches from leaders in child nutrition, including US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
For more information on SNA priorities for Child Nutrition Reauthorization, visit http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Blog.aspx?id=13463&blogid=622.
The School Nutrition Association is a national, non-profit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The Association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals. Founded in 1946, SNA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children’s health and well being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
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