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Legislative
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Lawrence Food Service Programs host
Congresswoman Nick Tsongas for Lunch
 The
Lawrence Public Schools Food Service Program was pleased to
host Congresswoman Nicki Tsongas for lunch on April 18th,
2008. Food Service Director, Annemarie Stronach toured the
High School kitchen and the entire Lawrence High School
which is brand new. The importance of good nutrition,
physical activity, healthy snacks, breakfast and summer
feeding were all discussed during the two hour meeting.
Annemarie Stronach is a member of the School Nutrition
Association and recently attending Legislative Action
Conference in Washington DC. Over 750 Food Service directors
visited with their congressmen and senators to discuss the
importance of school nutrition and to thank them for their
support of our programs. |
An Act to Promote Proper School
Nutrition
House Bill 4376
by Judy White Orlando, SNA of Mass. Legislative Chair
House Bill 4376 - What does it mean?
This bill is trying to regulate foods sold during the school
day that are not part of the school lunch/breakfast meal. It
will apply to:
1. School Food Service a la cart sales, such as ice cream,
snacks
2. School stores
3. School snack bars
4. Vending machines in all areas of the building and school
campus
The Department of Public Health will establish a list of
foods and shall develop nutritional guidelines and standards
for any competitive foods or beverages provided or sold in
Massachusetts schools in a report.
When they make this report they will consider such factors
such as:
● adequate phase in time for
compliance to implement new nutritional standards
● time of the school day during
which guidelines will apply
● additional training in nutrition
for food service directors
● capacity, resources and
equipment available in public school kitchens
● application of nutritional
standards during school sponsored fundraisers
● special exemptions from said
guidelines for school sponsored events
● adequate amounts of time for
school lunch periods
● exemptions from said standards
for competitive foods or beverages sold before or after the
end of the school day
The Department of Public Health will utilize recommendations
and competitive food and beverages from the report….
(d) Competitive foods or beverages sold or provided in
public schools shall be limited to
1. Non fried fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nonfat and
low-fat dairy products, any such other food shall contain
zero grams of trans fats and is in compliance with
competitive foods permitted in the report
2. Beverages that are water without flavoring, additives or
carbonation, 100% fruit juice, nonfat or low fat dairy
drinks, or any other beverage shall be caffeine free with
exception of trace amounts of naturally occurring caffeine
substances and in compliance with competitive foods and
beverages permitted in the report
3. Other competitive foods or beverages with the
recommendations of the report. Competitive foods not
prepackaged with nutritional shall be required to have
nutritional information available to students by display or
in a binder.
4. The Department of Public Health in consultation with the
DOE shall conduct a review of the implementation of this
section and the appropriateness of maintaining the standards
recommended by the report with 5 years of the effective
date. Upon review of said standards, the department of
health shall use the most updated recommendations made by
the authoritative scientific and public health organizations
concerning appropriate nutritional standards for foods sold
outside of the reimbursable meal programs.
They will also include in their report the following: the
proportion of public schools that have successfully
implemented the standards for competitive foods and
beverages, challenges and barriers, changes in revenue,
notable changes in students participation in the National
School Lunch Program, and report recommendations for
improvement of said standards and guidelines. This report
will be made to elected representatives, senators, House
Speaker and Senate President on or before September l, 2013.
Other information in the bill is as follows:
• Public schools shall offer for sale fresh fruit and non
fried vegetables at any location where food is sold.
• Public Schools shall make available plain potable water to
all students during the school day at no cost.
• The Department of Public Health shall promulgate rules and
regulations to carry out the provisions and enforcement of
this section within 90 days of the effective date of this
section. The department of education in coordination with
the department of public health shall promulgate regulation
for the enforcement of this section within 90 days of the
effective date of this section.
|
2007
LEGISLATIVE ISSUE PAPER
The National School Lunch Act was enacted in 1946 to protect
the well being of the nation’s children and to support
American agriculture. That remains the purpose of the Act
today. As the Congress considers a new farm bill, we ask the
Congress to remember the critical needs of our children.
Specifically, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) urges
action on four issues:
Nutrition Standards. SNA urges the Congress to require a
uniform national standard to govern the sale of all foods
sold or made available on the school campus during the
school day. Under current law, the meals provided through
the school lunch and breakfast programs must follow the
Dietary Guidelines for Americans. SNA remains committed to
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as a uniform national
standard. The implementation of the Dietary Guidelines,
however, is not uniform throughout the country. Further,
there are no national standards for foods sold or made
available outside of the school cafeteria. We need
consistent standards in the schools to promote wellness and
send a clear and positive message to our children.
Therefore, we urge one uniform national standard throughout
the school in place of the various state and local standards
and endorse the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch
Protection Act as an important step in the right direction.
This Act will expand the time and place rule, which SNA has
long advocated for. The time and place rule applies the same
regulations to all foods sold or served on campus throughout
the school day.
Funding of the Reduced Price School Meal Pilot. SNA urges
the Congress to provide $23 million over three years to
carry out the reduced price school meal pilot. The Child
Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-265)
authorized a pilot to test the effectiveness of using the
WIC income guidelines as the free school meal guidelines.
Data indicates that the daily 40 cent fee for a reduced
price school lunch and the 30 cent fee for a school
breakfast is a barrier to participation for low income
working households – including active military families.
School Breakfast Commodities. SNA urges that 10 cents be
provided in USDA commodities for each school breakfast
served. USDA currently provides 18 cents in commodities for
each lunch served to the 29 million children participating
in the program. By comparison, no commodity support is
provided to the School Breakfast Program for the 9 million
children who participate. School breakfast commodity support
is essential to providing additional nutritious school
breakfasts to all children.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. SNA supports expanding
the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This program provides
an excellent vehicle for nutrition education and promoting
healthy eating habits.
|
2007 SNA
Legislative Issue Paper
Talking Points
1. Nutrition Standards: Under current law, the meals
provided through the school lunch and breakfast programs
must follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. SNA
remains committed to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans as
a uniform national standard. The implementation of the
Dietary Guidelines, however, is not uniform throughout the
country. Further, there are no national standards for foods
sold or made available outside of the school cafeteria. We
need consistent standards in the schools to promote wellness
and send a clear and positive message to our children.
Therefore:
*SNA urges the Congress to provide the Secretary of
Agriculture with the necessary authority to regulate the
sale of all food sold or made available in school during the
school day.
*SNA supports an amendment to prevent Federal funds from
being withheld for noncompliance with individual state or
local nutrition standards that differ from Federal
standards.
• Local control is central to school nutrition programs.
School districts should be setting their own nutrition
guidelines as no one understands the school nutrition
environment better than those working within schools.
• However, the local wellness policy requirement has led to
over 15,000 different local school nutrition standards and
policies.
• On top of the local policies, since 2003, 25 states have
passed legislation or regulations addressing nutrition
standards for foods and beverages in schools.
• Each of these has varied considerably from recommended
guidelines to prescriptive nutrient standards and lists of
‘banned’ and ‘approved’ food items. Over 200 pieces of state
legislation have been introduced on this topic during this
time period.
• Many of the introduced guidelines are not based in science
and focus on individual foods. National nutrition standards
should be guidelines that utilize scientific evidence and
are based on a “diet”.
• While the intent of these efforts is good, – some
challenges have resulted:
o As operators it can be challenging to obtain products that
meet the new state and local guidelines – whether for use in
a la carte or school meals.
o When products can be found that meet nutrient requirements
or are on an “approved list”, the cost can be prohibitive.
o We hear from our industry colleagues that they are
struggling at the manufacturing level to meet the wide
variety of standards that exist. They see their costs (and
therefore ours as well) going up – and some fear they may
have to leave the school foodservice market entirely.
o Our state agency friends are struggling with this as well
as they help us understand the new standards and provide
training on new requirements.
2. Funding of the Reduced Price School Meal Pilot: SNA urges
the Congress to provide $23 million to carry out the reduced
price school meal pilot. The Child Nutrition and WIC
Reauthorization Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-265) authorized a
pilot to test the effectiveness of using the WIC income
guidelines as the free school meal guidelines. Data
indicates that the daily 40 cent fee for a reduced price
school lunch and the 30 cent fee for a school breakfast is a
barrier to participation for low income working households –
including military families.
• For many hard working low-income families, the 40˘ cost of
a reduced price lunch, and 30˘ for breakfast is more than
they can afford.
• Washington State eliminated the 30 cent reduced price
co-pay for breakfast in FY2006. Reports from area school
districts for September and October 2006 indicate that the
number of reduced price students eating school breakfasts is
increasing dramatically over last year at the same time.
Seattle School District showed a 90% increase, and Olympia
School District’s increase is 123%. Royal School District
near Moses Lake showed a six-fold increase.
• A 2006 recent SNA survey found that 19% of the respondents
had eliminated reduced price at some point for SBP, these
directors saw an average increase in participation at
Breakfast of 44%. Additionally, 8% of directors has
eliminated reduced category at Lunch and saw an average
increase in participation of 31%.
• Over 500 school boards have passed a resolution supporting
ERP.
• We urge Congress to include this appropriation in this
year’s spending bills.
3. School Breakfast Commodities: SNA urges that 10 cents be
provided in USDA commodities for each school breakfast
served. USDA currently provides 18 cents in commodities for
each lunch served to the 29 million children participating
in the program. By comparison, no commodity support is
provided to the School Breakfast Program for the 9 million
children who participate. School breakfast commodity support
is essential to providing additional nutritious school
breakfasts to all children.
• The addition of commodities for breakfast will support the
nutritional quality of the meal while keeping costs down for
schools.
• Through the commodity program school nutrition programs
now receive low-fat cheese, bulgur, lean meats, canned
fruits in light syrup, sunflower seed butter and many other
foods that are part of balanced, nutritious school meals.
• According to a 2001 United States Department of
Agriculture report, “school breakfast participation is
associated with higher intakes of food energy, calcium,
phosphorus, and vitamin C.
• Research in Massachusetts, Minnesota and Maryland has
shown that consumption of healthy school breakfasts result
in improved standardized test scores, less tardiness, and
fewer trips to the nurse’s office.
• Providing commodities for breakfast also serves another
goal of the child nutrition programs - increasing the market
for America’s farmers and ranchers.
4. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program: SNA supports expanding
the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. This program provides
an excellent vehicle for nutrition education and promoting
healthy eating habits.
• The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 5 to
13 servings of fruits and vegetables every day, making this
program an excellent way for students to have access to
these healthy foods.
• Students with access to this program are more likely to
try and enjoy different kinds of fruits and vegetables,
therefore instilling healthy eating habits for life. |
Five
$500 Scholarships Available for the
Legislative Action Conference in March 2007
The School Nutrition Association of Mass. is pleased to
offer five $500 scholarships for members to attend the SNA
national annual Legislative Action Conference (LAC) in
Washington DC March 4-7, 2007. These scholarships are being
funded by the money raised during the Fall 2006 conference
auction.
As a community of professionals serving our nation’s
children, communication with congress about their health and
safety is paramount. We need you to advocate on Capital Hill
for the children you serve everyday, and experience the
excitement and passion as groups of school food service
professionals ‘storm’ Capital Hill to speak with our
congressional leaders about our programs. When 700 march to
the Hill on 1 day, it makes quite an impact and you
personally feel the success of your work. The following
positions are promoted by LAC.
● Children deserve quality Child Nutrition Programs.
● Barriers to participation in Child Nutrition Programs
should be eliminated.
● Schools should have coordinated nutrition education
programs.
● Research linking Child Nutrition Programs and academic
achievement and learning is important.
● State and local boards of education should establish
nutrition integrity policies.
● We must support America’s agricultural community.
Please complete the following application (preference will
be given to representation from all five chapters.)
Recipients of this scholarship must attend all four days and
sessions and must be a member of SNA prior to requesting
consideration for the scholarship. The complete cost of the
trip (registration, airfare and hotel) will be approximately
$1000. The $500 scholarship will cover your conference
registration ($400 by 2/7/07, $480 after 2/7/07). Additional
funding may be available from your school district or local
SNA chapter. Applications must be submitted by December 20,
2006.
Attached you will find the application for this scholarship.
Please complete and e-mail to
dkorzec@boston.k12.ma.us or you may mail it to:
Debra Korzec-Ramirez, MSRD, CDN
Nutrition Education Coordinator
Boston Public Schools
Dept. of Food and Nutrition Services
26 Court Street
Boston, MA 02108
Or call Debra at 617-635-9303 if you have any questions or
concerns.
Application Form
|
What’s New in
Legislation?
It would be thrilling to tell everyone that Representative’s
Koutoujion’s bill 4452: An Act to Promote Healthy Nutrition
in Schools has passed through the House of Representatives
without any objections (for a history of the bill, see our
web site:
www.schoolnutrition.info under Legislative).
However, this is not the case. To date, the bill has yet to
reach the floor for debate. It is currently in the Health,
Ways and Means Committee where it will remain until at least
the end of January ‘07, when a formal session of the House
of Representatives will convene. These formal sessions take
place very infrequently.
The status of this bill is disturbing as the longer it is
delayed, the more of a detriment it is for the health and
well being of our children. It is therefore crucial that we
continue to campaign for the passing of 4452. Our
legislators are aware of the bill, per Representative
Koutoujion’s staff and our responsibility is to contact our
state legislators and state senators over the next few
months and emphasize the importance of this bill passing in
07’. Representative Koutoujian (Republican-Waltham) is the
House of Representative’s Chair for the Joint Committee on
Public Health. The School Nutrition Association of MA has
worked very closely with the representative, explaining the
nutritional science and significance of the bill.
Back in the spring, there was a Senate Bill proposed that
was backed by the American Beverage Association. This is not
a bill that SNA of Mass. supports as it compromises the
nutritional integrity of our school children. Interestingly,
and since then, the American Beverage Association, following
President’s Clinton’s lead on improving nutrition for
children and adults in the US, stated that they will no
longer provide sodas in elementary/middle schools and will
only provide diet sodas and sports beverages in high
schools. While we acknowledge this as a very big step for
the Beverage Association, it is not sufficient and is also
not a mandate from the government; it is more of a voluntary
action by schools if they choose to implement it.
So, the bottom line-keep contacting your state
representative and state senators and request their support
for H-4452. We do not want this bill ‘re-filed’ in January
for another yet further date.
How do you find out who your state representative is? Simply
log on to
www.mass.gov and follow the directions below for the
“Invite Your Legislator to Lunch Day”
Debra Korzec-Ramirez, MSRD, CDN
Legislative Action Chair
dkorzec@boston.k12.ma.us
|
State
Legislators Support School Lunch Funding
School Food
Service & Nutrition Professionals “Storm Capital Hill”
in support of Children
Washington, D.C. – March 2006 - What to you get when 20
determined School Food Service & Nutrition Professionals in
Massachusetts arrive in Washington DC for a Legislative
Action Conference? Success!
From March 11th through the 15th, twenty Massachusetts
School Food Service & Nutrition professionals attended the
Legislative Action Conference of the School Nutrition
Association, in Washington DC. There they joined forces with
800 other attendees from states across the country. Their
mission: storm Capital Hill to visit their state’s
legislators to present their Issue Paper and serve as the
‘voices of children’. (See attached Issue Paper).
Massachusetts’s attendees were extremely successful as
indicated by a letter signed by all 10 of our congressmen
requesting funds for the Elimination of the Reduced Pricing
Pilot Project and specifically requesting Massachusetts
receive 3 million dollars to be one of the five pilot
states. (See attached letter). Eliminating the reduced price
in school cafeterias would align the school meals program
with WIC’s (Women, Infants & Children) program’s income
guidelines, providing many more of our children a free
breakfast or lunch. “It only makes sense”, says Debra Korzec-Ramirez,
Nutrition Education Coordinator for Boston Public Schools
and the Legislative Action Chair for the School Nutrition
Association of MA. “The reduced price can be a major barrier
for many low-income families who do not have the money
needed for school meals”.
Other items on their agenda paper included:
● Providing funds for nutrition
education for children: $.50 per enrolled child per year,
presently an un-funded mandate that is especially important
with respect to the rise in childhood obesity and necessary
for development of the new federally mandated school
“Wellness Policy”.
● Increasing commodity foods for
school breakfast programs
● Global hunger awareness
These 20 Massachusetts School Food Service & Nutrition
Professionals represented 9 of the 10 congressional
districts in Massachusetts and included several
representatives of the food service industry. The passion
and determination these individuals have for our nation’s
children is contagious; many of them return yearly to
continue to advocate for child nutrition.
The School Nutrition Association of Massachusetts’ mission
is to advance good nutrition for all children by making
healthful meals and nutrition education available to all
children. The association sponsors state conferences and
exhibits each year with additional educational programs
offering certification and credentialing opportunities for
its members; over 800 foodservice personnel in
Massachusetts.
|
SNA
Releases 2006 Legislative Issue Paper
February 2, 2006 – In an ever-changing world, the health of
young people in the United States and abroad continues to be
a universal priority. Outsourcing, insourcing and
international trade agreements demonstrate a growing trend
toward globalization. In order for the United States to
compete effectively in the world market, a well-educated and
healthy workforce is critical. Strong school nutrition
programs are a key component to preparing children to learn.
In this context, the School Nutrition Association releases
the 2006 SNA Legislative Issue Paper, making recommendations
to Congress for a changing world.
SNA sets the following legislative priorities for 2006:
• Budget Reconciliation. SNA urges Congress to exempt child
nutrition programs from any budget reconciliation
requirement that may be enacted in 2006.
• Elimination of Reduced Price (ERP) Pilot. SNA urges
Congress to specifically appropriate approximately $30
million to carry out the ERP pilot program as authorized.
• Nutrition Education and Local Wellness Policies. SNA
recommends that Congress appropriate 50 cents per enrolled
child, per year, to integrate nutrition education into local
school curriculums.
• School Breakfast Commodities. SNA urges that 10 cents per
meal be provided in USDA commodities for each school
breakfast served.
• Global School Meal Program. SNA supports funding for the
McGovern–Dole International School Lunch Program.
See Related Links for the full text of the 2006 Legislative
Issue Paper.
The Legislative Issue Paper is based on input from SNA
membership, drafted by the Association’s Public Policy and
Legislation Committee and approved by the Executive Board.
The full Issue Paper may be accessed through Related Links.
Talking points on the Issue Paper will be available soon to
serve as a resource when talking to Members of Congress or
the media.
School Nutrition Association members will take the messages
of this year's Legislative Issue Paper to Congress, as part
of the 34th annual SNA Legislation Action Conference (LAC),
held March 12-15, 2006 in Washington, DC. To register for
LAC see Related Links.
|
Reduced
Price Update
Once again, we have received a letter signed by all 10
Massachusetts Congressmen requesting the House of Delegation
Appropriations Committee eliminate the Reduced Price of
school meals, thereby harmonizing the free income guidelines
with the WIC program's income guideline. (click
here) Specifically, the request is for the provision
of $29 million dollars to eliminate the reduced price in 5
pilot states and for 3 million of this to go to
Massachusetts, as one of the chosen states!
This is remarkable progress and hopefully we can use this as
leverage for other states to join in. I commend all our
members who attended the conference to visit our legislators
and to those who wrote or called encouraging them to support
this issue. It is an honor to represent all of you. Great
Job!
Debra Korzec-Ramirez
Legislative Action Chair |
The Senate vs. The House on Setting
Nutrition Standards in Schools
The Legislative Action Committee of SNA of MA encourages
members to read and respond to the most recent action on
Beacon Hill re: Nutrition Standards in Schools and Nutrition
Integrity:
On February 15, the Senate decided to move forward with its
own school nutrition bill. This bill, sponsored by Senator
Moore and differing in content and wording than the
Koutoujian House Bill 4552: An Act to Promote Healthy
Nutrition in Schools, has strong influence and support by
the American Beverage Association and its’ lobbyists.
Democratic leadership is backing a proposal described as a
compromise with the Food and Beverage Industry.
Under this Senate bill, soda would be banned from elementary
schools only; some cola-flavored waters and diet sodas would
be allowed in middle schools and high schools. If school
districts vote to allow soda to be sold in high schools, no
more than 50 percent of the beverage selection can be
sweetened and non-sweetened carbonated beverages. Moore's
bill would only apply to food sold during school hours, and
would not affect concession stand items or other fundraising
activities.
Senator Moore-D (Uxbridge) said his revised plan, which was
given initial approval in the Senate today, is an effort to
engage parents and schools in a nutritional education
process, ensure that vending machines - which help pay for
school activities - remain in schools, and establish
standards for food service directors in schools.
School officials say districts receive between $50,000 and
$60,000 from vending machines a year. "We're not trying to
put anybody out of work," Moore said.
Senate President Robert Travaglini characterized the
initiative as a "continuation of the health care debate" and
part of a strategy to reduce the development of diabetes,
asthma, and depression, all of which have been tied to
obesity.
The Senate plan has the backing of the Massachusetts
Association of School Committees (MASC), whose president
said today that the issue is being discussed at the national
level. It is also the topic of a lawsuit challenging the
availability of sugary and fatty foods and drinks in schools
Passage of this Senate bill, a compromise to the nutritional
integrity of our children, would be a major set back for
supporters of the Koutoujian Bill (H-4452 ). SNA of MA is in
strong support of the Koutoujian Bill. We have worked over
the past two years with the Representative of Waltham,
insuring that the content is consistent with good
nutritional standards and prepares us for our work on
developing the most recent federally mandated “Wellness
Policy” through out the state.
Thus far, we have achieved great success in our efforts to
pass H. 4452, "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition,"
which prohibits the sale of soda and junk food in schools.
We recently won the endorsement of the Massachusetts
Teachers Association, the state's largest union. The Cape
Cod Times and the Lynn Item have joined the growing list of
newspapers supporting the bill. We've generated hundreds of
calls, emails, and letters from members and activists into
legislators.
H. 4452 has been making its way through the legislative
process. Currently, the bill is awaiting action by the House
Ways and Means Committee before going to the floor for a
vote.
However, more work lies ahead. Please continue to:
1. Call your representative and urge them to actively
support H. 4452. To determine who your legislators are,
click here:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php.
Call your district senators (info at same web site) and
voice you disapproval of Senator Moore’s School Nutrition
Bill as it compromises the nutritional integrity of our
school children.
2. Write a letter to your newspaper
3. Educate family, friends, and colleagues about the
importance of H. 4452.
4. Encourage your school committee to endorse the bill.
Unfortunately, we know that industry lobbyists are prowling
the halls of Beacon Hill. We know that Coke convinced
Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell to veto a similar bill.
Let’s not let this happen in Massachusetts! |
SNA Releases 2006 Legislative Issue
Paper
February 2, 2006 – In an ever-changing world, the health of
young people in the United States and abroad continues to be
a universal priority. Outsourcing, in-sourcing and
international trade agreements demonstrate a growing trend
toward globalization. In order for the United States to
compete effectively in the world market, a well-educated and
healthy workforce is critical. Strong school nutrition
programs are a key component to preparing children to learn.
In this context, the School Nutrition Association releases
the 2006 SNA Legislative Issue Paper, making recommendations
to Congress for a changing world.
SNA sets the following legislative priorities for 2006:
• Budget Reconciliation. SNA urges Congress to exempt child
nutrition programs from any budget reconciliation
requirement that may be enacted in 2006.
• Elimination of Reduced Price (ERP) Pilot. SNA urges
Congress to specifically appropriate approximately $30
million to carry out the ERP pilot program as authorized.
• Nutrition Education and Local Wellness Policies. SNA
recommends that Congress appropriate 50 cents per enrolled
child, per year, to integrate nutrition education into local
school curriculums.
• School Breakfast Commodities. SNA urges that 10 cents per
meal be provided in USDA commodities for each school
breakfast served.
• Global School Meal Program. SNA supports funding for the
McGovern–Dole International School Lunch Program.
The Legislative Issue Paper is based on input from SNA
membership, drafted by the Association’s Public Policy and
Legislation Committee and approved by the Executive Board.
The full Issue Paper may be accessed through Related Links.
Talking points on the Issue Paper will be available soon to
serve as a resource when talking to Members of Congress or
the media.
School Nutrition Association members will take the messages
of this year's Legislative Issue Paper to Congress, as part
of the 34th annual SNA Legislation Action Conference (LAC),
held March 12-15, 2006 in Washington, DC.
To register for LAC go to
www.schoolnutrition.org. |
WHY THE
LEGISLATIVE ACTION CONFERENCE?
 We are all given so many opportunities to attend
conferences, workshops and programs through out the state,
country and the world every year, that it is difficult to
determine which ones to select based on our interests, time
constraints and of course, budgets.
My question to you in this letter is, that if by attending
conferences in the past you have felt that:
● You have had an immediate,
direct and positive impact on School Food Service &
Nutrition?
● You have been able to
articulate the needs of our children and programs directly
to your State
Representatives and Senators?
● You have educated your
legislators and know that your presence and impact on
Capital Hill is felt
before, during and after the conference?
● You have felt empowered by the
knowledge you learned and ready to take on politicians and
the
media in your district?
● You have heard numerous
Representatives and Legislators speak directly to you
regarding your
programs in the exciting and political environment of Washington DC?
● You have felt that regardless
of how many times you have attended this conference, you
anticipate,
and are equally excited and educated each time you go, as if each time were your
first?
● The School Nutrition
Association of Massachusetts considers this to be such an
important conference it
has provided members with the opportunity to obtain a scholarship to attend it?
Ok, so I think you’re getting the idea here. The Legislative
Action Conference (LAC) does all this, gives you all of the
above accomplishments and motivates you to become more
directly involved in the grass roots of our organization.
Here are some excerpts that your colleagues who have
attended the LAC in the past have made about their
experience:
“One of the highlights for me was when my colleague and I
were in the Washington DC airport waiting for our flight
home from the conference; we were approached by a DC
reporter and questioned on our trip to Capital Hill. When we
returned home and picked up our local paper, to our
amazement, the article was on the front page! I still have
the paper and needless to say this will be something I will
remember for a long time.
“ It is an unforgettable experience; lectures, seminars and
the trip to the Hill were so exciting it was contagious; I
think I wanted to run for Congress!”
 “I remember my first LAC like it was yesterday!” My lasting
impression was going through the grand ballroom the 1st
morning and seeing a mass of humanity filling the room;
there must have been close to a thousand people from Maine
to Hawaii coming to join forces and deal with the problems
we face everyday in school food service and nutrition”. I
found this to be a life changing experience which spring
forwarded me to become actively involved in SNA.”
“After the first visit, I went home and said to my father,
an elderly gentlemen even 5 years ago, “ I think I missed my
calling Dad,” to which he responded, what was that? “I
should have been a politician!”
There are more quotes, but more important is that WE NEED
YOU and promise that your experience at this conference will
be like no other you have attended.
The more representation we have from Massachusetts and the
country, the larger the impact will be.
We strongly urge you to consider attending this conference.
The dates are March 12-15th in Washington DC and early bird
registration ends on January 27th. See the SNA website for
specific information.
Additionally, please do not hesitate to contact me regarding
more information.
Debra Korzec-Ramirez, MSRD, CDN
Legislative Action Chair
dkorzec@boston.k12.ma.us |
We Need You!!!
We have recently received word that the Legislature is
“fast-tracking” H. 4452.
On January 24th, the House will vote on whether to ban the
sale of soda and unhealthful food in schools and we need
your help now to pass this important bill. Please take these
actions:
1. Call your representative and urge them to actively
support H. 4452. To determine who your legislators are,
click here:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php
2. Write a letter to your newspaper
3. Educate family, friends, and colleagues about the
importance of H. 4452.
4. Encourage your school committee to endorse the bill.
Unfortunately, we know that industry lobbyists are prowling
the halls of Beacon Hill. We know that Coke convinced
Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell to veto a similar bill.
Let’s not let this happen in Massachusetts!
An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition
History of the Bill
State Representative Peter Koutoujian (R-Waltham) introduced
the Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition during the
2003-2004 legislative year (H. 1457). The intent of H. 1457
was to address the growing overweight and obesity epidemic
in the United States.
Specifically this bill ensures that healthy snacks and foods
are provided in vending, school stores, a la carte, snack
lines and other venues in Massachusetts’s elementary,
middle, and high schools. H. 1457:
• Limits beverage sales to water, low-fat and non-fat milk,
and at least fifty-percent fruit juices or fruit-based
drinks in no more than 12-ounce containers.
• Limits food sales to those in 1-3 ounce packages with no
more than 30% of total calories per package from fat, 10% of
total calories from saturated fat and trans fat, and no more
than 35% from added sugars.
• Requires selected nutritional information for all foods
not prepackaged. To view the complete document, visit:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht01/ht01457.htm
How is H. 1457 progressing?
Two years ago, past president of SNA of MA, Margie Saidel,
and Jacqueline Morgan, past-legislative chair, met with
Representative Koutoujian to discuss the importance of this
bill. After educating Rep. Koutoujian about school
foodservice and nutrition, Margie and Jacqueline explained
to Rep. Koutoujian that the unhealthful foods in schools
originated from competitive food sales outside of
cafeterias. As a result of this, school foodservice programs
now had to compete with food and beverages not held to the
USDA school meal dietary standards.
In October 2005, Sheila Parisien of the SNA and Roberta
Friedman of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health
testified on the benefits and necessity of this bill.
Recently, H. 1457 was reported out favorably by the Public
Health Committee and it was amended in several ways,
creating a new bill number, H. 4452. Selected amendments
include:
• The standards for portion sizes, amounts of fat, saturated
fat/trans fat, and carbohydrates have been adjusted to
adhere to the guidelines produced by the Massachusetts
Action for Healthy Kids (http://www.maclearinghouse.com/PDFs/Health&Wellness/MA_Food_Standards.pdf)
• The original bill did not address the nutritional
guidelines in schools after the end of the school day. The
SNA strongly opposed this. In the amended version, this
section has been addressed and if passed, the bill’s
standards will apply all the time on school grounds. This is
a great victory for us.
• The amended version would require the Department of Public
Health to collect and report obesity trends and eating
disorders in students.
Legislative update prepared
by Melanie Mott, Dietetic Intern, BIDMC |
Our ten Congressmen have signed a
letter
to support the pilot project for eliminating the reduced
price category.
This
letter has been forwarded to the Honorable Henry
Bonilla, the chairperson of the Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related
Agencies Committee on Appropriations.
This is a strong message from our Congressional leaders that
they support our efforts regarding child nutrition.
All ten congressmen have signed on to support this $29
million dollar pilot project even in these difficult budget
times. They understand the relationship between nutrition
and learning and the importance of good nutrition to health.
They agree that the reduced price category is still too
expensive for some low-income working households. You may
want to consider sending a personal note to the congressman
representing your district to thank him for signing this
letter
and supporting child nutrition.
Sheila Parisien
President |
Legislative Action Review
by Jackie Morgan, Legislative Chair , SNA of Mass.
School Food Service Directors from across Massachusetts just
returned from an exciting Legislative Action Conference in
Washington D.C. Four months ago the Child Reauthorization
Bill was signed into Law. This bill addresses seventy new
items regarding nutrition and the health of our children.
All districts will need to have a wellness policy in place
by June 2006.
Congressional visits occurred on Tuesday, March 15, 2005.
Directors met in person with Congressmen McGovern, Frank,
Neal, Meehan and Capuano. They also met with five
congressional aides and two senatorial aides. The four
important issues we addressed were:
● Encouraging the fully
funded child nutrition bill through the appropriation
committees
● Eliminating reduced meal
category and supporting the pilot project of five states
● Streamlining the summer
feeding programs.
● Nutritional education of
$.50 per enrolled student
All of our ten elected Congressmen agreed to join together
and send one letter as a united delegation to the head of
the appropriations committee supporting our four issues.
It has become apparent that there is a huge obesity problem
in our country. The latest statistics show over 61% of
adults and 15% of adolescents are obese. We must teach
children at a young age about healthy living that includes
both proper nutrition and an active life style. Now, more
than ever, nutrition education is imperative. The reality is
if we don’t pay now to educate them we will be paying as a
country when this age group grows up with medical problems
such as Type II Diabetes and heart disease.
School systems across Massachusetts recently attended a two
day conference, Healthy Happenings, sponsored by the School
Nutrition Association of Massachusetts. The conference was
designed to help Massachusetts school food service
professionals address these critical health issues. Session
speakers included people from USDA, the Department of
Education, and the John Stalker Institute. One session
examined the guidelines for a la carte items created by the
organization, “Massachusetts Action for Healthy Kids”. They
are asking that all schools provide healthier snack items
that are under 7 grams of fat, no more than 2 grams of
saturated fat and with no more that 1.25 ounces per package.
The guidelines also include ice cream being no more than
three ounces per package and all beverages being offered
include only water, milk and juice that is 50% juice or
better. Vendors later showcased items that meet these
guidelines and many food service directors across
Massachusetts will be implementing these new ideas into
their programs. |
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