School Nutrition

Mission:

We want to ensure that students in Philadelphia have access to healthy foods that will benefit their health and boost their performance in school. In addition to providing nutritious foods to all of the Philadelphia School Districts’ students, we strive to reduce ill diet related diseases and hunger. Currently in Philadelphia, according to City Council, one in three children rely on emergency food programs.
Screen shot 2010-11-22 at 2.48.44 PM
Screen shot 2010-11-22 at 2.48.44 PM

Supporters:


The School Breakfast Program, the National School Lunch Program (these are permanently authorized), and School Nutrition Association.

Opponents:

Lunch trucks that purpos ely park near schools and neighbor hood stores that only provide affordable “junk food.”

All current Child Nutrition Bills


Joe Sestak, current runner for US senate supported the “Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2009.” The act was created in effort to provide schools with at least 65% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch. Today in Philadelphia public schools this is still seen.

The Child Nutrition Act has been renewed. In summary:
  • Supports Obama's fight in ending child hunger by 2015
  • An additional 1 billion dollars for every 10 years of the authorizing legislation
  • Applications regarding free or reduced lunch should be done on the computer to reduce "obstacles", "stigmas", and "unnecessary costs to the School District of Philadelphia."
  • Reduce obesity and diet related diseases
  • Ensure that all children have access to healthy and nutritious foods while protecting the needs of the citizens of Philadelphia
Screen shot 2010-11-22 at 2.50.41 PM
Screen shot 2010-11-22 at 2.50.41 PM
Along with other public officials: Chakka Fattah and Allyson Schwartz.

In 2009, Robert Brady along with other Pennsylvania representatives introduced the  Paperless Enrollment for School meals Act of 2009. The bill allowed:

1) Allows schools or districts that agree to serve breakfast and lunch free to all students for 5 years to be reimbursed based on socioeconomic data rather than individual student applications.

2) Makes it easier for schools serving high-poverty areas to provide free meals to all children by allowing data-based eligibility. The school or district gets administrative relief in exchange for covering any costs that exceed federal reimbursements.


“Passing the bipartisan child nutrition bill is vital to children and families in Pennsylvania and across the country,” said Senator Casey. “Especially because of the economy, more children depend on these programs so they don’t go hungry.  More than one million children participate in the school lunch program in Pennsylvania with nearly 200 million lunches served each year.” according to (Politic PA)
The renewal of bill delayed:

“Congress has already passed two extensions for this bill, delaying renewal of the child nutrition programs for more than a year.  Another extension would cause kids to lose out on the strong reforms and $4.5 billion in resources already passed by the Senate. (Thehill.com)

House of Representative Bob Brady and our lobbying group have agreed on many political views in the past such as:National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010.

Bob Brady was a big supporter of the health care reform earlier this year.
However, he may have supported the Nutrition cause in the past, we have yet to find information about his progress of the 2010 Renewal of the Child Nutrition Act.
Congress has put this bill on halt because of the economic crisis according to PA Senator Bob Casey. “We are currently facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  The effects of this crisis are far reaching and will impact the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization debate. “  
Progress
The bill may not be great but at least it is a step into improving student health. However, Bob Brady has been a supporter of  child nutrition act, he has yet to speak or support the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act 2010 which is still in the air because of our current economic crisis.

Sources:
http://www.brady.house.gov/
http://frac.org/legislative-action-center/cnr-priorities/current-child-nutrition-bills/
http://www.politicspa.com/casey-urges-passage-of-child-nutrition-bill/14120/
http://casey.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=e881bb5e-f7ac-43e8-8b6c-62cd319d44a1

http://www.brady.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=43&sectiontree=42,43

Comments