The Senate approved a $4.5 billion child nutrition bill by voice vote yesterday, according to the Associated Press.
The legislation had been stalled since March due to concerns from Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) about about the cost of the bill. Yesterday, President Obama contacted Sen. Coburn to "assure him the legislation was paid for." The bill was highly praised by first lady, Michelle Obama, and is an important part of her campaign to end childhood obesity.
The LA Times reports that the legislation still awaits Congressional approval, however. The "House has already recessed for the summer, and quick approval appears unlikely, even though it is returning next week to vote on an aid package for states." The cost of the legislation is "fully covered by other budget offsets, but Democrats are reluctant to engage in additional spending and the offsets would come from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamp program) which lawmakers are "hesitant to raid."
The legislation would "continue existing school nutrition programs that expire at the end of the federal fiscal year on Sept. 30 while providing schools with their first increase in the cost of providing meals since 1973." The funding would "enable school cafeterias to overhaul their menus and provide updated, healthier choices." It would also allow schools to expand after-school snack programs into full meal programs and would establish "new nutritional standards on all food offered on campuses -- including items in vending machines."
Reuters reports that according to USDA statistics, "17 million households representing 49 million people were 'food insecure' at some point during 2009. This is the highest level since 1995, when the first national food survey was conducted."
To read the AP story, click here.
To read the LA Times story, click here.
To read the Reuters story, click here.
Posted: 08/06/2010
