Child Nutrition Bill Passed By Congress Despite Gop Manipulation

A child nutrition bill was approved by the House and sent to President Obama's desk Thurs. The child nutrition bill will spend $4.5 billion for making sure poor children get fed, make school cafeterias serve healthier food and control the items in vending machines in school hallways. Republicans trapped to the party line by opposing the bill on large govt grounds, but efforts by Democrats to minimize the cost won over enough members of the opposition to secure its approval.
What are elements of the child nutrition bill?
The house passed the child nutrition bill with a 264-157 vote. The Senate unanimously approved the bill last summer. The legislation increases government spending on child nutrition by $4.5 billion over 10 years. For the very very first time since 1973, federal reimbursements to families for school lunches will increase more than inflation. Language within the child nutrition bill gives the secretary of agriculture authority to set standards for meals consumed by school kids, including food sold in vending machines. New standards will require schools to serve more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy.
The followers of the child nutrition bill
The food industry with the National Academy of Sciences and input from children's advocates; all worked together to create this bill. Labor unions, health care industries, educational groups, religious groups, beverage groups, and many more all support this bill being implemented. Studies showed that school lunch programs have a major impact on the nation's health. The bill's supporters said it could enhance learning, reduce health care costs and help reduce both childhood hunger and obesity.
Child nutrition converted into politics
Republicans tried to derail the child nutrition bill with a procedural maneuver that would have sent it back to the Senate instead of to the president for a signature. Republicans take over the house in January, and if they could have just gotten it delayed that long they would have killed the whole bill then. Republicans said this bill will just boost government spending, and that it was not the governments job to tell people how to eat. $2.2 billion is being taken away from food stamps in an effort to offset the $4.5 billion cost of this program. In the end, 15 Republicans crossed the isle to vote for the bill.
Details from
New York Times
nytimes.com/2010/12/03/us/politics/03child.html?_r=1
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/02/AR2010120202737.html?hpid=topnews
NPR
npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131206956

By: Barbara Coswell

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Source for this article - Child nutrition bill passed by Congress despite GOP maneuvering by Money Blog Newz.