NSBA's Letter to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry: October 22, 2007
October 22, 2007
The Honorable Tom Harkin The Honorable Saxby Chambliss
Chairman Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition and Forestry Nutrition and Forestry
328 Russell Senate Office Building 637 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510
Re: Mark-Up of Senate Farm Bill
Dear Senators Harkin and Chambliss:
On behalf of the 95,000 school board members who serve the nation’s 48 million students in our local public school districts, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) wishes to comment on Title IV (Nutrition Programs) of the Senate Farm bill, which is expected to be considered by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry this week.
As you know, school nutrition is an important part of fostering a healthy learning environment for children to achieve their full potential. Research suggests that a healthier school environment can result in greater academic achievement, improved student and staff attendance and healthier lives for students and educators. NSBA is committed to helping school policymakers and educators make informed decisions about health issues in their schools. As a result, we offer the following recommendations regarding Title IV (Nutrition Programs) within the Senate Farm Bill.
Fruit and Vegetable Program
NSBA appreciates Congressional efforts to support schools in increasing their offering of fresh fruits and vegetables to promote healthy eating among their students and staff. As a result, NSBA supports the $225 million annual funding level proposed in the Chairman’s draft, which would expand the Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program so that schools in all states have the opportunity to participate. This level of investment would expand the program from eight to fifty states and reach more than 5,000 schools across the country.
Competitive Foods
NSBA opposes additional mandates and regulations outside of the federally subsidized school meals program that would restrict the authority of local school boards to address nutrition and overall student wellness. Federal efforts to regulate or codify into statute the types of foods and beverages that can and cannot be sold in schools throughout the entire school day and at school events are overly intrusive and burdensome on school districts. Furthermore, such actions would undermine the work of local wellness committees to engage members of their community about health issues in their schools.
Under the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, every school district participating in the federal school meals program must enact a wellness policy that includes goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and nutrition guidelines for all foods available at school. Local school board members play a role in developing these plans and believe that local communities are in the best position to foster and support a healthy learning environment for their children.
On behalf of school board members across the country, NSBA thanks you for your leadership on the 2007 Farm bill. We look forward to working with you to ensure that our recommendations are accepted and that harmful amendments are not added to the bill as it continues through the legislative process.
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Chrisanne Gayl, Director of Federal Programs, at 703-838-6763; or by e-mail, cgayl@nsba.org.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Resnick
Associate Executive Director