Friday, March 19, 2010

On the Move! Senate Introduces Mark-up of Child Nutrition Reauthorization

Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee released her "mark" for Child Nutrition Reauthorization!

The "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010" includes $4.5 billion over ten years to strengthen the child nutrition programs. Click here for an analysis of investments in the proposal.


Highlights include:


Increasing access to child nutrition programs: Universal school meals in low-income areas, expanded and improved direct certification for free school meals, outreach for summer meals, and more.


Supporting child health and reducing childhood obesity: Nutrition promotion in child care settings, support for breastfeeding in the WIC program, increased school lunch reimbursement rates, and more.


Improving program management and integrity: Additional training for food service personnel, simplified paperwork for day care sponsors, transition of WIC food vouchers to EBT cards, and more.


The Chairwoman's mark is the first step in the process of passing a robust Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill. On Wed, March 24th, the committee will mark-up its Senate version of the bill.


For future updates on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, please sign-up on our agency homepage (click here).