"Senate Passes Child Nutrition Bill."

[Clio the Leo]

Senate Passes Child Nutrition Bill.

The Senate passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act on Thursday, a bill that provides an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years to federal child nutrition programs including school lunch. If signed into law, it will be the first time that the federal government has increased funding for the programs in 30 years.

<snip>

“The Senate bill changes the school food landscape in ways that are all positive,” said Michael F. Jacobson, the executive director of Center for Science in the Public Interest, a public health advocacy group in Washington. “Put simply, it will get junk food out of, and put more healthy food into, America’s schools. Chairman Blanche Lincoln and Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss deserve credit for forging a bipartisan agreement on the bill and for fighting to secure a vote despite a crowded Senate schedule.”

A range of advocates including the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the United Fresh Produce Association also expressed support.

The bill allocates $1.2 billion to increase the number of children receiving food, an effort to meet President Obama's pledge to end childhood hunger by 2015. The remaining $3.2 billion would be used to improve the quality of school meals. This includes an extra 6 cents per meal per student for schools that meet new, stricter nutrition standards and funding for schools to establish school gardens and to source local foods.

The bill also would mandate that the Department of Agriculture develop nutrition standards for all foods sold in schools, not just what is served in the lunch line. Standards for so-called "competitive foods," which have been controversial in previous years. Some school districts argued that the money earned from vending machines and a la carte lines helped to support sports and arts programs. Food companies were concerned about losing access to millions of schoolchildren.



http://food.change.org/blog/view/senate_passes_child_nutrition_bill_now_what

[alcibiades_mystery]

1. This is terrible!

They're taking money from food stamps! And even though I can't produce evidence that anybody who meets the criteria has ever been denied or is likely to be denied for food stamps, I still think it's terrible, because I think I can pretend to know something about federal budgeting because I read headlines and the first paragraph of speculative blog posts on the Huffington Post! Because I'm a stupid asshole!

</idiot>

[Whisp]

3. :)

I'm just sitting this one out. Sitting back and watching the show.
always neat guessing what will be said in total and outraged disagreement to an OP like this one.

It will come. ;)

[Whisp]

2. This is good news! K&R

[smalll]

4. Yes! Let's spend 3.2 bil. to put as many lentil loafs and arugula salads into the cafeterias!

So that parents will have to spend extra money to buy lunchables to sent their kids to school with, if they want them to actually EAT a midday meal! Genius! We have so many extra billions to spend these days! :eyes:

[Arkansas Granny]

12. It's quite possible that the kids might like healthier foods if they are ever introduced to them.

It's quite possible to prepare healthy foods in a way that children will eat and enjoy them.

[Skittles]

5. this is good

Ms. Obama has taken flak for this issue but I believe it is very important.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. Did the Republicans vote against feeding children

[Shirleydem]

7. Not sure. we'd have to see a roll call

Does anyone have the roll call vote?

[ensho]

8. good news! now if we can just keep the teachers in the class room

nt

[Clio the Leo]

9. Since you mentioned it...

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100810/UPDATES01/100810043/Congress-sends-federal-teacher-aid-bill-to-the-president

[KakistocracyHater]

10. it would be great if spinach becomes the new lettuce for all burgers &

sandwiches, it has iron in it. If you object to a law mandating fresh or frozen spinach instead ask yourself why is lettuce "required"? If only there was a law requiring spinach, & I'd fine lettuce-farmers, it's a waste of precious blue gold. I can dream.

[Clio the Leo]

11. Yummm spinach. nt