Legislation to Watch

Child Nutrition bill signed by Governor

SB 127 - Child Nutrition was signed by Governor Owens on May 25. The bill creates a program to make free fruits and vegetables available to students in public schools, especially to students qualifying for free or reduced-cost lunches.

House passes FY07 Agriculture Appropriations Bill

In total, the bill provides $18.4 billion in total discretionary resources. This level represents a decrease of $96 million below the FY06 enacted level and $564 million over the President’s budget request.

Specific commitments to important food and nutrition programs:

· Commodity Supplemental Food Program is funded at $118.3 million, $11 million above last year and $118 million over the President’s request.

· Child Nutrition Programs (Mandatory) are funded at $13.3 billion, $685 million above last year and $300 million below the President’s request.

· Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is funded at $5.244 billion, $40 million above last year and $44 million above the President’s request.

· Food Stamp Program (Mandatory) is funded at $37.9 billion, essentially the requested level and $2.8 billion below last year. In fiscal year 2007, participation is estimated to decrease by about 1.1 million participants according to the most recent estimates by the Administration.

Thanks to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations for information contained in this brief.

Students want their junk food
Adults in the front office and in the state Legislature, however, have designs on minimizing the selection of junk food available in schools.