SNA Commends Senate Passage of Child Nutrition Reauthorization;
         But Calls on House to Make Critical Changes to the Bill
Visit SNA's website to learn more.

2010-2011 Reimbursement Rates

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service has published the reimbursement rates for the 2010-11 school year. The rates are effective as of July 1, 2010.

The basic rate (Section 4 and Section 11 funds) for paid lunch in the 48 contiguous states is 26¢ - an increase of one cent from last school year. Free lunches will be reimbursed at $2.72 per meal - up from $2.68 last year. Reduced price lunch reimbursement is now $2.32 up from $2.28 last year. Paid breakfast reimbursement rates remained the same at 26¢ and free breakfast is now $1.48 while reduced-price breakfast is now $1.18 in non-severe need districts. In severe need districts, free breakfast is now $1.76 and reduced-price breakfast is $1.46.

The rate for donated foods is 20.25 cents per meal – an increase of 0.75 cents from last year. The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) rate for paid breakfast and supper will be 0.26. Reduced price breakfast and supper will be 1.18 and 2.32. Free breakfast will be 1.48 and supper will be 2.72.

Rates for School Meals
Rates for CACFP
Value of Donated Foods

Governors Respond to Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act
Click here to read a letter the nation's governors wrote to lawmakers.

SNA Provides Summary of Reauthorization Bill
Click here to read an analysis of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, provided by SNA's legal firm.

SNA Comments on School Nutrition Dietary Assessment-IV (SNDA-IV)

Click here to read the letter SNA President Katie Wilson wrote to USDA on this subject.

Federal Legislative Update from SNA's PP&L Committee
(posted 10/20/09)

1.  Penny McConnell at Fairfax, VA schools hosted a fantastic Cafe Visit a week ago and attending were:  Secretary Vilsack's wife (USDA), Secretary
Arne Duncan's wife (Dept of Ed), Janey Thornton, Sam Kass (White House Chef) some Hill Staff members, a reporter from the Washington Post and SNA
staff people.  The reporter from the Washington Post wrote an outstanding (and positive!) article on school lunch!

2.  SNA President, Dora Rivas and SNA staff will be going to the White House on Wednesday!!! Chef Sam Kass has invited SNA and others for a
meeting to share recipes/meals for healthy school meals. Dora will be doing a "demo" of one of her chicken wraps she serves at the Dallas Texas
district!  (and yes, Dora does get to meet Michelle Obama!!!!)

3.  Reauthorization:
     *we look for it to start shortly after the 1st of the new year
     *key issues continue to be:
           -national nutrition standards
           -funding
           -time & place
           -professional standards
           -indirect expenses

4.  LAC:
     *if we are in the midst of reauthorization, LAC will be an important conference to attend!
     *the PPL committee worked on LAC-
           -there will be 2 pre-cons on Saturday
           -Keynote speaker for Sunday:  Amy Walter - noted political "pundit" who will look back on the first year of Obama Administration and a preview of
           the 2010 elections
           -Keith Thomas-Ayoob will speak again this year:  Nutrition Controversies and How to AddressThem (he was a fantastic speaker last year, and we
           have invited him back!)
           -Looking at several options for Monday night banquet speaker: Sen. Blanche Lincoln (new Senate Ag Chair), Rep. JoAnn Emerson,  and several others
           -Wednesday:  TOWN HALL meeting on Professional Standards

So, get registered early for LAC!!

Congressman McGovern encourages lawmakers to learn more about childhood hunger/nutrition

Rep. McGovern (D-MA) has written to all of the House members, encouraging them to take 1 hour of 1 day during their August recess to learn more about childhood hunger/nutrition issues.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to invite your Congressional Representative to visit your school.  SNA has a great guide - Cafeteria Site Visits 101 - that you can use as a 'roadmap" to planning a visit!

Click here to read the text of Rep. McGovern's letter.

GAO Releases Report on Impact of
Eliminating Reduce-Price Fee

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released its report on the impact of eliminating the reduced-price fee. GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog," GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. Click here to read the GAO report.

SNA President Writes to First Lady

Click here to read the letter SNA President Katie Wilson wrote to First Lady Michelle Obama regarding comments Ms. Obama made regarding the School Meals programs.

Nutrition Program Extensions Planned In House And Senate         
 

There are two things happening on this front:

The Appropriations committees are extending the CN programs, including WIC, for one month through Oct; and Authorizing Committees (see below) are considering a one-year extension.  This second extension could also happen
on an appropriations bill.

HILL BRIEFS
Nutrition Program Extensions Planned In House And Senate

Senate Agriculture Chairwoman Blanche Lincoln said yesterday that she and House Education and Labor Chairman George Miller are preparing bills for one-year extensions of child nutrition programs and that she expects Congress to pass them before the programs expire on Wednesday.

Child nutrition programs, including the school lunch program and the special nutrition program for women, infants and children known as WIC, expire every five years and were supposed to be reauthorized this year, but Congress has been too busy with other issues to get the job done.

Lincoln said she and Senate Majority Leader Reid are looking for an appropriate bill to attach the extension to in the Senate.

Senator Lincoln Says Congress May Not Act on Reauthorization Until Next Year

Senator Blanche Lincoln, the new chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, says reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs may not be completed until next year. The excerpt below is from an Agweek article that discusses the impact of recent leadership changes in the Senate following the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy.

"Lincoln said she would move forward with the reauthorization of the child nutrition programs, which expire Sept. 30. But Lincoln noted that it would impossible to reauthorize the programs by the end of the month and said she would probably seek a short-term reauthorization of the current program. She said it is “possible” that Congress will not act on a new five-year reauthorization until next year. The bill includes the school lunch program and special program for women, infants and children known as WIC. Major battles are expected because both the Obama administration and members of Congress want to change the meal offerings to reduce childhood obesity and
make it possible for the programs to reach more children."

Click here for the full Agweek story.

Harkin Statement on Succession of the Senate Help Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement regarding succession of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP).

“Today I am honored to accept the chairmanship of the Senate HELP Committee.  To serve in this capacity is to carry on the legacy of Senator Ted Kennedy, who dedicated his life to ensuring that our economy works for all Americans, guaranteeing every child the opportunity to pursue a quality education and, of course, the cause of his life: access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.   In this last endeavor, I expect to work closely with Senator Dodd, who has guided the HELP Committee so capably in reporting The Affordable Health Choice Act, and who will
continue to play a leading role as health care legislation moves to the Senate floor.

“Of course agriculture will always be a key interest to my home state of Iowa, so I intend to remain a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, a Committee I have been on since I first joined the Senate in 1985.  My dedication to the Agriculture Committee dates back to my first year in Congress when I served on the House Agriculture Committee in 1975.  In that time, I have had the great privilege of serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee during enactment of the 2002 and 2007 farm bills – bipartisan legislation that passed this
body by an overwhelming majority.  It is because of these bills that support for renewable energy and support for farm income grew exponentially, acres and acres of lands have been preserved through conservation efforts, rural developments efforts grew to help small towns that Americans have access to more fruits and vegetables and food assistance is covered for American families who need it.  I intend to remain a member of the Committee.”

Lincoln Next Chairman for Senate Committee
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Washington – Arkansas’s senior U.S. Senator, Blanche Lincoln, has been tapped as the next Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.  In the committee’s 184-year history, Lincoln will be the first Arkansan and first female ever to serve as Chairman.

“As a seventh-generation Arkansan and farmer’s daughter, I know my father is smiling down on me today,” Lincoln said.  “I am fortunate to have served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry since I was first elected to the Senate in 1998.  It has been a committee of significant importance to my constituents and our state’s economy.  The Committee’s responsibilities encompass a number of issues that are critical to Americans, particularly those living in rural areas.  With such priorities as child nutrition reauthorization, farm bill implementation, and regulation of commodities, the Committee has a full plate.  I thank Senator Harkin for his tremendous leadership.  As Chairman, I will work with my colleagues to build upon the Committee’s strong record and devote my full energy to producing forward-looking, balanced priorities on behalf of all families and communities.  I will continue to fight for the hardworking farm families and rural communities who provide the safest, most abundant and affordable supply of food and fiber in the world.”


Lincoln has:

served on the Senate Committee on Agriculture,Nutrition, and Forestry since January 1999; has served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry, and Credit, during the current 111th Congress.

Served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Production, Income Protection, and Price Support, during the 110th Congress.

Played key role in the 2008 farm bill debate, ensuring a strong safety net for America’s farm families.

Since 2005, has served as Chair of Rural Outreach, building relationships with a broad coalition of rural advocacy groups in  order to demonstrate Senate Democrats’ commitment to rural America.

Founded bipartisan Senate Hunger Caucus in 2004 to help focus the Senate’s attention to the hunger that exists in this country.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Lincoln served on the House Committee on Agriculture from 1993-1995.

USDA responds to MSDA request to Look at
Sodium Content of Commodity Cheese

In April, MSNA wrote to USDA, asking it to review the high sodium content of the commodity cheese it makes available to the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Click here to view the letter that was sent to the director of the Food Distribution Division.
Click here to read USDA's response to MSNA's letter.

Legislative Updates

On July 21, 2009, Senator Herb Kohl (WI) introduced S. 1480 to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.  Cited as the “Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2009” the bill would establish a program to improve the health and education of children through grants to expand school breakfast programs, particularly universal programs provided during the school day.  The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry for further consideration.

Also on July 21, 2009, Representative Gwen Moore (WI) introduced H.R. 3277 to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966.  Also cited as the “Student Breakfast and Education Improvement Act of 2009” the bill would establish a program to improve the health and education of children through grants to expand school breakfast programs, particularly universal programs provided during the school day.  The measure has 10 cosponsors of which Representative Donna Edwards (MD) is listed.  The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor for further consideration.

2010 Dietary Guidelines Committee

Other Helpful Links

http://thomas.loc.gov - A source of information to obtain House and Senate activity. You can retrieve information on submitted and passed Bills and Public Laws, check the Congressional Record, and obtain Committee information. This site also has links to state sites and The Library of Congress.