Time goes by so slowly. It just ticks away second by second. Everyday in school Heather stares at the clock, watching time go by painfully slow.  Reality sucks. Heather escapes it by being in a constant state of daydreaming.  By being separated by reality Heather achieves little in school. She can't help it. She's tried various times to pay attention but came to the conclusion she just can't.  It's impossible to sit for 6 hours listening to a teacher lecture on and on. Instead Heather slips into fantasies. She imagines ways of making time go by faster. Well not faster but exciting or at least different.  See, time goes by slowly because Heather is bored, however by adding a thrill to life, time goes by faster. Perhaps pulling the fire alarm would make a good thrill?

"No, it's to risky," she thought. 

"I'll get caught, go to principle's office, and be grounded for a month, so in the end I’ll just make my life even more boring. However, there is always the chance that I won't get caught. And we'll all rush out of school and wait for the fire department to come, but that will only take up an hour or so."

Heather sighed and decided to take up some time by wondering throughout the school. She went to the stairways. She was hoping some kids would be hanging out there skipping class, but no luck. This was usually a good spot to go to. Everybody was always hanging out there, but after the school got a lecture about cutting class kids stopped. Heather sat on the steps. It was nice to just sit in silence, but after a while Heather could smell the stench of the stairways. She never really noticed how bad it was before because she would only walk up them to get from class to class or would always be distracted by being engaged in a conversation. Heather decided it was to time to leave the stairs. Anyways they were too gray and insipid leaving her drowsy and bored. Heather began to wander through the hallways. They were the exact opposite of the stairs. They were so full of color and bright lights. This was a good adjustment from the stairs, but they were empty. It was as if the school was abandoned. Heather felt lonely and a little spooked out.  She felt as if she was on an episode of the Twilight Zone, where she was the only person alive. She would never have another human interaction again. She’d go crazy from lack of socialization, become schizophrenic and die alone, and nobody would care or know because nobody would be alive.  Heather walked around school more in hopes of finding someone, to calm her fear. She found an exit. Heather had a decision she could leave school or stay. She was afraid of leaving, because then she might get in trouble and her belongings were in her class, but Heather’s fear was slowly consuming her. She hadn’t seen or heard anybody for a while now. She had to go outside and see human civilization. She pushed open the door that leads outside. She saw no one and for the first time Heather wanted to be in reality.

Reflection:

 It was really hard for me to find 12 laws, cases, or offices that impacted me directly. Whatever I found first I used as one of my 12 laws or cases. After much research I discovered that as I get older and as I begin to pay taxes, buy a house, own property, get my own health insurance, etc. more laws, acts, and cases will affect me. The government affects my life a fair amount right now with such acts, laws and cases like the No Child Left Behind Act, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, FAFSA, and Tinker vs. Des Moines. However, as I get older the government will GREATLY impact/influence my life, because the older I get the more I participate in society like having a job and paying taxes. All of these activities are monitored or set by the government meaning the government has more authority over my life. Overall, this project gave me a better understanding of the three branches of government, which are legislative, executive, and judicial. By having a stronger knowledge on these branches I now am more aware of my rights and restrictions, and the overall and basic knowledge of how the government functions.

Hershey

Elijo este anuncio porque Hershey es un muy popular barra de chocolate y el anuncio es famosa. El producto es un barra de chocolate y la compañía es Hershey. Creo que las valores es que chocolate trae personas unidos.  En la anuncia el chico da a el amor y la unidad la chica un “Hershey kiss”.  Hershey quiere que los consumidores a valoréis amor y unidad. El público meta es también, Hershey enérgicamente anuncia en televisión durante las vacaciones en la televisión. La información crucial no representa da en este anuncio, es que hay efectos negativos.  Los niños pueden ser fácilmente adictos al chocolate. Chocolate destruye los dientes y hace personas locas. En mi contrapublicidad esta una chica con un expresión malvado en su cara mientras mirando a la barra de chocolate. Mi anuncio muestra la reacción real de niños cuando comen chocolate. En mi contrapublicidad,  cambio el niño y el tipo de Hershey chocolate. Conozco tres valores de SLA que viene en conflicto con el anuncio original.  Investigación es un valore por que consumidores no llevan el tiempo a investigación los ingredientes en Hershey cual son malo por tu salud y los consumidores no investigación los efectos de comiendo Hershey chocolate que son también malo. Indagaciones es otro valore que viene conflicto con el anuncio original porque personas no preguntan como viene comiendo este chocolate efecto me y que ingredientes en el producto de Hershey?  El ultimó valor que está en conflicto con el anuncio original es reflexión.  Reflexión porque nadie refleja. Mi anuncio está en el baño platea.  Mi anuncio viene efectivo porque esta en un lugar detestable. Por supuesto mi contrapublicidad viene efectivo porque mientras personas están haciendo sus negocios ellos tienen mi anuncio exactamente en tu caras.  Adoro chocolate pero intento no comer chocolate porque no quiero caris. Mi anuncio esta en el baño platea.  Mi anuncio viene efectivo porque esta en un lugar detestable. Por supuesto mi contrapublicidad viene efectivo porque mientras personas son haciendo sus negocios ellos tienen mi anuncio exactamente en tu caras.

Coca-Cola

En este anuncio el producto es un refresco. La compañía es Coca-Cola. Elijo este anuncio porque Coca-Cola es muy popular. Casi todo el mundo bebe Coca-Cola. Todos los días estoy veo estudiantes en mi escuela bebiendo Coca-Cola por la mañana y por la tarde.  En este anuncio, la compañía Coca-Cola demuestra que con una Coca-Cola uno puede estar contento y alegre como Santa Claus. El anuncio revela a los niños que Santa Claus, una figura a que todos los niños les ama, es bebe refresco; los niños quieren beber soda. Adulto son también afectan a este anuncio porque Santa esta una persona quien es simpático y quien da a otros. Durante las vacaciones adultos dan los otros como Santa y desde que Santa bebe Coca-Cola entonces adultos deban bebe Coca-Cola. El compañía quiere personas a crean que Coca-Cola es bueno (cual lo es) y que bebiendo Coca-Cola hace tu sentir mejor. Coca-Cola tiene muchos anuncios en todas partes de Filadelfia. Están Coca-Cola anuncios en SEPTA,  vallas, televisión, el cine, y la radio.  También, muchos estudiantes beben Coca-Cola y sus amigos también.

Coca-Cola contenía cocaína. Cuando Coca-Cola fue primero en poner cocaína en sus bebidas, mucha gente fue adicto a Coca-Cola. También, Coca-Cola tiene afectos malos. De beber el refresco, dientes amarillos (cual es uno de mis valores). También, contiene ingredientes malos para la salud como high-fructosa corn syrup. Mi contrapublicidad demuestra los afectos negativos,  los afectos reales, de Coca-Cola. Mi anuncio demuestra la presencia de el refresco y el afecto que tiene.  Como se puede ver, cuando Santa Claus bebe Coca-Cola la soda no hay hace alegre; en cambio, el refresco le hace Santa loco y les hace a los niños gritan. En el anuncio original, hay un Santa Claus feliz bebiendo una Coca-Cola pero en mi contrapublicidad, visualicé el ingrediente, cocaína, en el producto. También, visualicé el efecto negativo de Coca-Cola. En mi anuncio no  visualicé un feliz Santa-Claus. En mi anuncio agregué los niños  tristes con Santa. La expresión facial de Santa es diferente también. Además, Santa esta alegre, el está loco y malvado por que Santa consume cocaína. Los valores de SLA como investigación y indagaciones que viene en conflicto con el anuncio original a consumidores no investigación los ingredientes y los afectos negativos de Coca-Cola.  Amo soda pero bebo un pequito soda porque es malo por mi salud.  Voy a estar encimar de bebedero porque este lugar es donde mucho gente ir a agua y vea mi anuncio.

1. Briefly summarize the bureaucratic 'task' that you selected.

2. Give an overview of your process.

3. Reflect upon the paperwork that you needed to fill out. Was it straightforward, easy, difficult, perplexing, etc.

4. If you could change one thing about the bureaucratic process that you flow charted, what would it be and why?

5. Why do you think the systems have become so complicated?

I think this system has become so complicated because there are a lot of requirements to meet.

6. Other thoughts, reflections, feedback.                                      I thought it was a little bit ridiculous that if somebody had a tattoo on their face or a scar somewhere on there body that they were not qualified to be a Marine.

Published link to flowchart: https://www.lucidchart.com/documents/view/4d08c4ed-3fd8-4682-99e3-7f590afcbe04

I am lobbying for two bills. The first act is the Healthy for Healthy Schools Act of 2009, sponsored by Blanche Lincoln. This aims have nutritious school meals that meet dietary guidelines. I have emailed Blanche Lincoln the following message.

To United States Senator Blanche Lincoln:                                 Hi I’m Emma Connell. I am currently attending Science Leadership Academy and for my American Government class I have been assigned the task to lobby for an issue. I decided to lobby for something that affects me and many other kids all across the nation: this issue is school lunches.  I currently focused on lobbying for the Healthy Food For Healthy Schools Act of 2009, proposed by you Blanche Lincoln. So far the Act has been introduced on September 8th, 2009 and reviewed by the committee and has been referred to the committee of agricultural, nutrition, and forestry. But even if the Bill does get passed many schools aren’t up to date with kitchen standards. Although, the United States Department of Agricultural can offer nutritious foods, schools  still won’t have the materials to cook nutritious food and instead unhealthy food such as chicken nuggets and pizza will continue to dominate school meals. How do you plan to fix this problem? Are there any issues you are having with this bill?

I also emailed people supporters and non-supporters of the School Meal Enhancement Act, which strives for a higher percentage of kids to receive free or reduced school meals. I focused on this act because if the Healthy Food for Healthy Schools Act of 2009 gets passed this will allow for nutritious food to be available to a larger percentage of kids. I emailed supporters of the act such as Joe Sestak and Robert Brady. I also emailed representative Jim McGovern who is against the bill. In my email i asked him why he is not in support of the act and if there is anything that can be changed in the bill, that would get him to support the School Meal Enhancement Act.

To Joe Sestak and Robert Brady:                                                 Hi I’m Emma Connell. I am currently attending Science Leadership Academy and for my American Government class I have been assigned the task to lobby for an issue. I decided to lobby for something that affects me and many other kids all across the nation: this issue is school lunches.  I currently focused on lobbying for the School Meal Enhancement Act proposed by Joe Sestak.  So far the School Meal Enhancement Act has been introduced,  referred to committee, reported by committee, and has been presented to the House of Representatives who earlier proposed voting on a Senate-passed version of the child nutrition bill. However, 106 House Democrats addressed Speaker Nancy Pelosi  and said they were no longer in support of the Senate version. Instead they called for their own House bill, which does not contain the food stamp cuts. Further debate and discussion on the bill will not take place until winter 2010.  I was curious if you knew anything about the date( s) for debate and discussion of the School Meal Enhancement Act. I was also wondering if you have enough support of the Act and if you do need support, how do you plan to gain support of democrats against the bill. Would it be by reducing how the act cuts into food stamps? If there is anything I can do please let me know.

-Thank you

Not only did I send out emails but I also made fliers and posted them around the city. On the flier the two bills pending for legislation and the issue of unhealthy school meals is addressed. I have links for people to go to and vote in support of both bills.

Below is proof that I emailed people and pictures of my fliers posted.

1. What we’re lobbying for. America is currently facing the issue of childhood obesity, yet school lunches don’t delver nutritional food to students worldwide. Instead of offering healthy quality meals school lunches serve food that are high-fat meat products such as pepperoni pizza, hot dogs, meatloaf, and cheeseburgers. Many school meals contain more than half a day’s worth of sodium and saturated fat. Studies show 39 percent of the children who eat school-provided lunches are overweight, compared with 24 percent of those who bring lunches from home. Experts at the Institute of Medicine and other organizations have recommended that Americans eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and less saturated fat and sodium. However, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act, passed July 16th 2010, will change high fat and sodium meals into healthy ones. Not only will the act improve the quality of meals students eat but it will also put a stop to childhood hunger, and establish nutrition standards for all school meals.  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100503_Lousy_school_lunches_fuel_childhood_obesity.html

3. Main Supporters of Lobbying Idea.George Miller Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee unveiled his Child Nutrition bill on Thursday June 10th 2010. The bill proposes that about $8 billion in additional funding over 10 years for child nutrition programs, including school breakfast and lunch. The bill sets strict nutrition standards on items in vending machines and school lunches. It also requires low-fat milk to be sold and an additional half a cent per lunch to fund nutrition which might include redesigns for cafeterias to encourage students to make healthier food choices. It also provides start-up grants for school breakfast programs and year-round meal service in some states.http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/food-politics/congressman-proposes-8-b.html

Here is a YouTube video link of George Miller announcing his Child Nutrition bill: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=EdLaborDemocrats

Michelle Obama is another supporter of the bill.  Not only has she initiated the Let’s Move Campaign, which is a nationwide initiative for kids to make healthier choices, improve food quality in schools, increase access to healthy foods, mark food at affordable prices and encourage physical activity for kids, but she has recently proposed a $1-billion annual increase for Child Nutrition Act programs. The act covers the payment of school district meals, summer and after-school food programs, food served at various day-care facilities for children and adults, and last but not least the Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children, which provided food to more than 8 million people in 2007. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/26/nation/na-child-nutrition26http://www.letsmove.gov/learnthefacts.php

Earlier this year, the first lady visited Bancroft Elementary School to talk to the students who helped her plant the White House vegetable garden, and stressed the importance of healthy eating habits. Michelle Obama also plans to eliminate processed foods and teach children how food effects their body. In fact, Mrs. Obama said, Malia and Sasha “ate up that information and they started schooling me and lecturing me about what I should be eating, and what a carrot does, and what broccoli does.” Mrs. Obama sees the potential that school lunches can have on shaping a child’s eating habit.  She changes the school districts non-nutritional lunches by introducing foods kids don’t eat at home. She believes once students try and accept new, nutritious foods, maybe they’ll ask their parents to serve those foods at home. “Maybe they’ll spur some changes in the way their whole family eats.” http://www.schoolfoodpolicy.com/2009/05/30/michelle-obama-school-lunch-should-be-a-lesson/

Just as the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act, Michelle Obama is also working with food-industries to reduce the amount of sugar, fat, sodium, and salt in school lunches.  However,  increasing the number of fruits and vegetables in school lunches is a pricey buy.  Fruits and vegetables have increased 50 percent faster than other food of the last 20 years.  Nutrition experts had hoped the presidents budget would add a dollar a day to the school lunches in order to pay for higher-quality foods. Unfortunately, the programs only added 20 cents more per lunch. http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-human-condition/2010/02/10/michelle-obama-s-plan-for-healthy-school-lunches-still-faces-funding-hurdles.htmlhttp://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3pressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Agov3&b=pressrelease&f=100730_School_Nutrition_Signing&csid=Agov3

6. Other Background Information

It has recently been noted that 20 percent of the food in school cafeterias comes from the USDA commodities program, which is a food distributor program. Although the USDA commodities provide food to schools, 75 percent of the food on their list are beef and chicken. “Many districts divert fresh commodities to processors, said Margo Wootan, who is the director of nutrition policy at the center for Science in Public Interest. (http://www.time.com/time/2004/obesity/speakers/wootan.html) "Too many schools turn chicken into nuggets, or pork into pizza toppings," she said.“In Philadelphia schools, much of the food comes from a Brooklyn, N.Y., distributor, which prepares, packages, and ships frozen meals to schools to be warmed,” says food services chief Wayne Grasela. According to Sandy Sherman, director of nutrition education at the nonprofit Food Trust in Philadelphia, two-thirds of city schools have no kitchens.http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_ce17affa-3617-11df-892e-001cc4c03286.html

Although many schools have a poor meal system there are some striving for better. Cities around the nation have taken the initiative to refurbish what and how children eat. New York City for example, devised a farm school program with the help of state legislation and the department of agriculture and education. The program offers raw, fresh, local, and healthy menu items. http://youngphillypolitics.com/time_rethink_school_lunch_programJust like New York City schools are initiating healthier school meals so is Philadelphia. West Philadelphia school has a full kitchen where many meals are prepared practically from scratch. The school gets $5,000 a year in extra funding from the district to buy fresh produce and even has its own vegetable garden.     http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_ce17affa-3617-11df-892e-001cc4c03286.html                                   

    Health and Medical Associations

While some schools endeavor to have healthier meals, The American Public Health Association and the American Medical Association have called for vegetarian meals to be offered in schools to lower the percentage of childhood obesity and other health discrepencies. Both associations agree that familiarizing children with healthy, plant-based foods at an early age shapes them to have healthy eating habits for life, therefore decreasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses.  Experts of medicine say, “A child who chooses a veggie burger instead of a hamburger just two days a week reduces his or her saturated fat intake by 37 percent. On the other hand, one who eats a meal of chicken nuggets has to run three miles just to burn off the calories it contains.” http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100503_Lousy_school_lunches_fuel_childhood_obesity.html

Petition letter: Below is a link to read and sign a petition for healthy lunches. It was started by the Healthy School Lunches. http://www.change.org/healthy_school_lunches/petitions/view/tell_congress_to_provide_vegetarian_and_vegan_meal_options_in_public_schools

Problems with Bill:

Supporters of the food reform believe much more money will be required to overhaul unhealthy school meals. In the New York Times, Alice Waters, a famous American chef, stated, “schools need $5 per lunch per student, almost twice the $2.68 they receive from the federal government for students that qualify for a free lunch.” The problem that lies ahead is whether the House can find the money to pay for the $10 billion dollar bill. Unlike the Senate, which proposes enough cuts in other programs to pay for the increase, the House Education and Labor Committee, has found only $1 billion so far. To pass its version, it will need to persuade other committees, such as the House Agriculture Committee, to help fund its proposal. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/food-politics/congressman-proposes-8-b.html

The following is a link to a discussion, talking about how the Nutrition Bill might not be as affective one would think. Money for the nutrition bill should mean students eating healthier foods, yet the bill is in competition with fast food places right across the street.http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/09/15/pm-can-a-school-lunch-overhaul-beat-junk-food/

Representative and their District

A Pennsylvania representative that is in support of healthy school lunches is democratic member of the House of Representaives, Chakkah Fattah. Fattah, represents Pennsylvania’s 2nd congressional district, which includes North Philadelphia, West Philadelphia, Montgomery County,  and parts of Northeast Philadelphia and Cheltenham Township. Pennsylvania’s 2nd congressional district has a large democratic party, in fact it’s so large that it is the fifth most democratic congressional district out of 435 others in the nation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania%27s_2nd_congressional_district

Biography

Chaka Fattah was born in Philadelphia on November 21, 1956.  It was during his youth that his mother and father decided to start a home for homeless boys and girls. By the tender of age 14, Chaka went to the bank and got them to provide money for funding the home for homeless boys and girls.  Although already having an influential impact, it wasn’t until his junior year that Fattah realized his passion for politics.  After receiving a masters degree in government administration in 1986, Fattah became the youngest man to be elected to the Pennsylvania Legislature as a Democrat. http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Fattah__Chaka.html However, before becoming a member of congress, the now positioned congressman, worked as a serving member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate.  Before being a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representative and representing Pennsyvania’s 2nd congressional district, Fattah was the special assistant to the Office of Housing and Community Development in Philadelphia from the year 1980-1982. His other careers included being state representative of Pennsylvania General Assembly from 1982 to 1988 and state senator from 1988 to 1994. http://www.answers.com/topic/chaka-fattah. It wasn’t until 1995, when Fattah represented Pennsyvania’s 2nd congressional district.  Being a democrat Fattah endorsed Obamam for president in 2008 and in 2007 ran for mayor of Philadelphia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaka_Fattah.  During his 12 years of a state lawmaker, six being a state representative and six being a state senator, Fattah began focusing on issues such as quality schools and equal opportunities for inner-city students. In fact, each year Fattah inches his way to making bigger changes of improvements. http://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/bios/Fattah__Chaka.html

Policy and Community Interest (How has my legislator voted on my issue in the past?)

One example of how Fattah is developing plans of action to improve Philadelphia is that he  is currently launching a program called Growing Together that provides nutritious meals for Philadelphia schools in poor urban areas.  Fattah believes that, “It is important for young people to be exposed to quality food,” and in order to do so congress must advocate for nutrition among schools. Fattah does so by successfully leading the Philadelphia Congressional Delegation to temporarily stop termination of the city’s highly successful school lunch pilot program. Fattah also works to include free lunches for student’s of low-income families into Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act.  The Growing Together program aims to coordinate agriculture and healthy cooking programs in West Philadelphia.  If passed the program will engage 120 students in after-school and summer activities that will encourage healthy eating habits of students and improve the health status among communities. In order to improve community health, Growing Together supports school gardens that heightens community food and donations of fresh produce to the City Harvest Program. Growing Together will support healthy cooking workshop series led by teen peer food educators at community and school-based settings across West Philadelphia.http://politicalnews.me/?id=1767&keys=Congressman-Chaka-Fattah-LowIncome

Along with his interest in school lunches, congressman Fattah's  also has focus in policy interests such as education, community and economic development and last but not least legislative policy. http://fattah.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=59&sectiontree=6,43,59

Fattah's top legislative priority is H.R 2130 The Comprehensive Transform America Transaction Fee Act . The plan calls for the elimination of federal taxes and then replaces the taxes with a fee on transactions. This allows for the elimination of federal taxes which therefore stimulates the economy and increase the number of jobs by allowing businesses to expand their work offices and hire more employees.http://fattah.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=19&sectiontree=2,19

Although Fattah’s main pivot is legislation policy, he is also in support of health and education by voting yes on a bill that aspired for an additional 10. 2 billion dollars for federal education and health and human services. Fattah also voted yes on a bill that wanted $84 million grants for black and Hispanic colleges and voted yes for a bill that strived for 40 billion grants for green public schools. http://www.ontheissues.org/PA/Chaka_Fattah_Education.htmAlong with voting yes on various bills that support improvement of education systems, Fattah continues to emphasize his education policy by endeavoring to improve poor communities that suffer from under-qualified teachers, low- quality facilities and inadequate assets. http://fattah.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=92&sectiontree=4,73,80,92Video link focusing on Fattah’s educational value:http://chakafattah.com/

Here is a link of additional legislative and policy achievements. http://fattah.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=18&sectiontree=2,18

What We Have In Common

We both went to Commuity College of Philadelphia. I had psychology classes there and he attended college there. http://vote-pa.org/Intro.aspx?Id=PAFattahChakaLike me, Fattah was also in support of Barack Obama’s presidential election.Both of us are pro-choice (for abortion) and both of us want to reduce/stop crime, especially anti- gay hate crimes. http://www.ontheissues.org/PA/Chaka_Fattah.htmVideo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm7-fx1o8jA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

1. What is the status of your issue at the legislature? Is this a "good" year?How many elected officials have indicated support for your issue? Is there public support behind it, with good media attention? Who are your opponents, and how much power do they have? Has a policy been written to address your issue, or do you need to work with an elected official to write one?

Initiated by George Miller, The Improving Child’s Nutrition Act ameliorates the quality of meals students eat, stops childhood hunger, and establishes nutrition standards for all school meals. The act was passed earlier this year on July 16th. The Child Nutrition Act has much support and has inspired others to establish various acts and programs that require nutritious meals and exercise to reverse childhood obesity.  Supporters such as Michelle Obama initiated the Let’s Move Campaign, which increases access to healthy foods, marks food at affordable prices and encourages physical activity for kids. Not only has Michelle Obama commenced campaigns in support of healthy food, but she has also brought positive media attention to the issue by lecturing and educating schools on healthy eating habits. Schools have also been in support of the Act. Various cities around the nation have taken the initiative to refurbish what and how children eat. New York City for example, devised a farm school program that offers raw, fresh, and healthy menu items.  Although the bill has much support there are many opponents. Representative Jim McGovern and many other democrats are against a bill that has a plan to cut funds for food stamps to give more funding to school lunches. The senate already cut food stamp funds by 13.6%, $26 billion to aid education and medicaid costs in states. Other opponents include Labor unions and anti-poverty groups who are also against cutting food stamp funds.  Many opposing democrats have the power to veto the bill, just as they did in August 2009 when 100  House Democrats called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi, not to bring the Senate bill to the floor. Actions such as this prevent bills from getting passed and put a halt to improving child nutrition.  Although the bill brings up much concern on the subject of food stamps supporting House leaders and President Barack Obama worked on dealing with those concerns, eventually leading to the legislation of the Improving Child Nutrition Act. However other act and bills that branch of from the Child Nutrition Act might not be as lucky, such as the School Meal Enhancement Act proposed by Joe Sestak. The act strives for nutritious schools meals, however democrats argue yet again that the act cuts to much into food stamps.  In order to get the act passed good media and representation on the act must be presented. Just as Barack Obama and other House leaders defended and supported the Improving Child’s Nutrition Act so must others in support of Joe Sestak’s act for the state of Pennsylvania.  Another solution is to adjust the cuts in food stamps in order to please the main opposers, democrats. Support the Healthy School Meal Act at http://www.healthyschoollunches.org/wyntergrace/

Links:http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20100503_Lousy_school_lunches_fuel_childhood_obesity.htmlhttp://articles.latimes.com/2009/aug/26/nation/na-child-nutrition26http://www.letsmove.gov/learnthefacts.phphttp://www.takepart.com/news/2010/09/30/healthy-school-lunch-bill-stalled-in-congresshttp://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hdFHgkFxcfncSOerE5uz7Bk8fqCgD9II0ML80?docId=D9II0ML80http://thehill.com/homenews/house/114271-dems-consider-more-food-stamp-cuts-to-fund-child-nutrition-billhttp://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/food-politics/congressman-proposes-8-b.htmlhttp://www.congress.org/news/2010/11/12/advocates_push_child_nutrition_billhttp://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2690

5. What is the time frame?

So far the School Meal Enhancement Act has been introduced,  referred to committee, reported by committee, and has been presented to the House of Representatives who earlier on proposed voting on a Senate-passed version of the child nutrition bill. However, 106 House Democrats addressed Speaker Nancy Pelosi  and said they were no longer in support of the Senate version. Instead they called for their own House bill, which does not contain the food stamp cuts. Further debate and discussion on the bill will not take place until winter 2010. Links:http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2690http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/09/30/healthy-school-lunch-bill-stalled-in-congress

6. When are key dates - meetings, committee hearings, deadlines, etc.Bill was introduced and Refereed to House of Commitee on Education and Labor - June 3rd 2009House of Commitee on Education and Labor voted for Bill. Passed on a vote of 32-13 - July 15 2010http://www.votetocracy.com/house_bills/hr2690-school-meal-enhancement-act-of-2009-18816.html

Links:http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2690http://sestak.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1102:congressman-sestaks-legislation-to-improve-school-lunch-access-and-safety-passes-committee-&catid=13:2010-press-releases