Child Nutrition Bill
On August 5th, the senate passed S 3307, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. It reauthorized school meal and child nutrition programs and increased funding by $4.5 billion over the next 10 years. However, the proposed funding for the bill decreases funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps).
The Senate bill is opposed by many House members, including our own Dennis Moore. The House bill, HR 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act, has passed out of committee, but needs to be passed soon by the House so that it can be reconciled with the Senate version and sent to the President before the deadline. The House bill increases funding by $8 billion over the next 10 years and does not cut SNAP.
For more information and how to act:
Healthy School Campaign
Community Food Advocates
Children's Initiative Fund
Despite an historically tough budget year, the Kansas Legislature kept its promise to Kansas kids by maintaining the Children's Initiative Fund (CIF). The CIF funds the majority of early childhood programs in Kansas, including Early Head Start, Parents as Teachers, newborn screening and many more programs. The CIF was created through the 1998 tobacco settlement funds.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Health Committee is to research health care issues and to advocate for the health and well being of our communities.
Committee Co-Chairs:
Nicole Heim
Goals:
- To continue to advocate for meaningful health care reform that includes increasing access to affordable health care for all. Please see our Health Care Reform page for additional information and resources.
- To advocate for the health issues of children.
- To support mandated, comprehensive sex education in Kansas by tracking relevant legislation and State Board of Education activity pertinent to health care and contacting legislators and State Board members as needed. We are currently exploring specific options for action including partnering with the Metropolitan Coalition for Responsible Sex Education and MAINstream Coalition.
- To track activity related to stem cell research, especially in Kansas.
In addition to these ongoing goals, our committee will be targeting the following issues in 2010: increasing child care facility inspections, decreasing infant mortality, and supporting SCHIP for the health of Kansas children, Clean Indoor Air and the support of Local Foods.