Child Nutrition Reauthorization Update: Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry announced last Monday that the Committee will markup the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 on September 17, 2015.
Please join us in urging Congress to honor our recommendations for WIC reauthorization this year. You can read our Reauthorization Legislative Agenda and Summary, and send a letter.
Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) introduced H.R.2407, the School Milk Nutrition Act of 2015, cosponsored by Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) in early June. Along with giving public schools the option of offering 1% flavored milk rather than only fat-free, this bill would allow mothers in the WIC program to select reduced-fat milk (2%) for themselves or their children with a written request. In view of the latest Institute of Medicine (IOM) review of the WIC food package (Final Rule published in March 2014), which determined that women and children over age 2 should only be able to purchase fat-free or 1% milk, H.R. 2407 undermines the IOM review process and creates a dangerous precedent whereby Congress can decide what foods should be included in WIC food packages regardless of the latest nutrition science. The National WIC Association opposes this bill, and will be circulating a letter of opposition in the near future.
August Recess: The House of Representatives is currently on August recess; the Senate will begin its recess next Monday, August 10. Both chambers will return to Capitol Hill on September 8. During this time, when members of Congress will be in their home districts, the National WIC Association encourages you to reach out to your Senators, Representative, and their staff to give them a tour of a WIC clinic in your district. NWA will provide more guidance later this week regarding how to reach out and organize a local event.