House Passes Child Nutrition Bill
December 3, 2010
House Passes Child Nutrition Bill
The bipartisan child nutrition bill, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, was approved Thursday by the House of Representatives. The President should sign the bill into law before year’s end, as the White House and USDA have been on record in support of the measure. First Lady Michelle Obama has made this a priority in conjunction with her “Let’s Move” anti-obesity campaign. NMPF supported the bill as well.
“The health of the nation’s school children will be enhanced by the bill’s requirement that milk be served with each school meal,” said Jerry Kozak, President and Chief Executive Office of NMPF. “School meals provide an important venue to help assure that children are consuming three servings of low-fat or fat-free milk products that are recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. We are pleased that the bill will improve the nutrition environment in schools by encouraging consumption of healthier foods like milk and milk products.”
The bill reauthorizes the child nutrition programs for five years. The largest portion of the funding goes towards the school meal program and the special nutrition program for women, infants, and children, known as WIC. The bill increases the reimbursement rate for school meals by six cents costing an additional $4.5 billion. NMPF was successful in maintaining a variety of milk (both varying flavors and fat content) in the school meal program.
