|
The 2007 Farm Bill – Act Now to Help Fight Obesity
Senator Harkin announced this week that the Senate Agriculture Committee will mark up the Farm Bill sometime on the week of October 22. This bill provides a unique opportunity to improve health policy and help combat obesity. The Campaign to End Obesity encourages the Senate Agriculture Committee to include the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act in the 2007 Farm Bill. Including this legislation would greatly improve the nutrition environment of every school in the country and would be a major step toward achieving the goals agreed to at the National Summit on Obesity policy (click here to view the list of priorities identified at the Summit).
Now is a critical time to encourage all members of the Senate Agriculture Committee to join Senators Harkin, Murkowski and 24 additional cosponsors – Democrats and Republicans – in fighting childhood obesity. Include the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act in the 2007 Farm Bill.
The Farm bill also provides many additional opportunities to increase health and help reverse the obesity epidemic. In addition to addressing child nutrition, the Campaign to End Obesity strongly supports the following proposed inclusions.
Ø Expand the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Program to help schools in all 50 states provide healthy snacks to students during school activities
Ø Create a demonstration project that will evaluate strategies to address obesity among low-income communities
Ø Reauthorize National Nutrition Monitoring which provides the only large, representative sample of dietary intake and related health, knowledge, and behavior data in the United States.
Ø Expand the authority of the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program that provides senior citizens with vouchers to buy fresh produce at markets and roadside stands
Ø Study the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations to determine if the food packages meet dietary guidelines and needs
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
YOU CAN TAKE ACTION!
· Lend your voice
· Get updates and alerts about key events and developments
· Get more information
Click here to take action. | 
