A child nutrition bill was passed by the House and sent to President Obama’s desk Thurs. The child nutrition bill is intended to make sure more poor kids are fed, make school meals healthier and make sure that vending machines offer more dietary choices, at a cost of $4.5 billion. A move by Democrats to funnel cash from food stamp programs to the child nutrition bill may have helped to overcome the usual Republican opposition to new legislation. Source of article – Child nutrition bill passed by Congress despite GOP maneuvering by Money Blog Newz.
Child nutrition bill contains what?
The house passed the child nutrition bill with a 264-157 vote. The Senate unanimously approved the bill last summer. The legislation increases government spending on child nutrition by $4.5 billion over 10 years. Federal reimbursements to families for school lunches will boost more than the inflation rate for the first time since 1973. Language in the child nutrition bill gives the secretary of agriculture authority to set standards for meals consumed by school children, including food sold in vending machines. Kids will start seeing more fruits and vegetables, more grains, and less fat under the newest guidelines.
Who supports the child nutrition bill?
The food industry with the National Academy of Sciences and input from children’s advocates; all worked together to create this bill. Labor unions, health care industries, educational groups, religious groups, beverage groups, and many more all support this bill being implemented. There have been numerous studies conducted that show school lunch programs alone impact the whole nation's health. The bill’s supporters said it could enhance learning, reduce health care costs and help reduce both childhood hunger and obesity.
Child nutrition turned into politics
Republicans tried to derail the child nutrition bill with a procedural maneuver that would have sent it back to the Senate instead of to the president for a signature. They were pushing for simply a delay until Jan. when they take over the house so they could kill the bill then. The Republican party line had been the bill increased federal spending and the government had no business telling families what they should eat. The $4.5 billion this program will cost is going to come in part from a cut in food stamps by $2.2 billion. 15 republicans did agree on the bill anyway.
Citations
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/12/03/us/politics/03child.html?_r=1
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120202737.html?hpid=topnews
NPR
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131206956
The contents of the child nutrition bill
The majority of the house (264-157) was in favor or the child nutrition bill, passing it without any difficulty. This past summer there was a unanimous approval from the Senate. $4.5 billion will be added to the government spending on child nutrition over the next decade. For the very first time since 1973, federal reimbursements to families for school lunches will increase more than inflation. Not only will the secretary of agriculture have the power to set the standards in school lunches, it will also have the power to control what is sold in vending machines. New standards will require schools to serve more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy.
Who supports the child nutrition bill?
The food nutrition bill was written with guidance from studies conducted by the National Academy of Sciences and input from children’s advocates as well as the food industry. This bill is supported by many groups of people from health care, to food industries, to religious groups, and more. Studies showed that school lunch programs have a major impact on the nation’s health. Reducing health care costs, enhancing learning, reducing childhood hunger and obesity, are just a few of the benefits of having a good lunch program in place.
Political debate about child nutrition
Republicans tried their hardest to get this bill sent back to the Senate, instead of the president. The delay would have denied the outgoing Democratic House an achievement and allowed the GOP to kill the bill with its majority that begins in January. The Republican party line was that the bill increased federal spending and the government had no business telling families what they should eat. To offset the $4.5 billion cost of the bill, Democrats diverted $2.2 billion from food stamp programs for low-income families. There were about 15 republicans that were still in support of this bill regardless.
Articles cited
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/12/03/us/politics/03child.html?_r=1
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120202737.html?hpid=topnews
NPR
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131206956