SNE 2005 PRIORITY ISSUES
SNE is working with Congress and the federal agencies to address the greatest concerns facing nutrition educators across the United States .
• Child Nutrition and Marketing to Children – Last year, Congress passed the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill and the President signed it into law on June 30, 2004 . This year SNE will continue to work on strengthening these programs in order to integrate nutrition education elements into all federal food and nutrition assistance programs. We believe that increased funding is necessary to expand and coordinate nutrition education and promotion efforts at the federal, state and local levels to ensure healthy eating behaviors. SNE supports increased funding for federal child nutrition programs .
• Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity – During the previous Congress, the IMPACT legislation was introduced to reduce obesity, particularly among children and adolescents. That legislation fell short of enactment. IMPACT recognizes the significant problems associated with obesity including heart disease, diabetes and cancer and works to reduce those problems by encouraging better nutrition and more physical activity. SNE is urging members of Congress to cosponsor this important piece of bi-partisan legislation when it is reintroduced in the 109 th Congress .
• 2005 Dietary Guidelines/Food Guidance System– The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans reflect the federal government's science-based advice to promote health and reduce risk of chronic disease through nutrition and physical activity As a key component of the Food Guidance System these guidelines will help consumers make informed decisions about their diets and health ONLY through effective and broad distribution of this valuable material. SNE supports funding that will enable broad distribution of this important information for consumers across the country.
• Nutrition of Older Americans – This year Congress is scheduled to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA), which is the largest nutrition program serving the elderly population. SNE acknowle dg es the importance of older adults to our society, and is committed to promoting public policy and nutrition education that will promote healthy aging. SNE supports the reauthorization and increased funding for the Older Americans Act.
• Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women and Infants and Children (WIC)/ Food Stamp Program including Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE), Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP ) – The WIC program provides health-promoting food, nutrition education, and health care referrals for women and children. Currently, recommendations for specific changes to the WIC food packages are expected in late 2005 or early 2006. SNE is working to ensure that funding for nutrition education in these programs is not cut or directed to other areas.
• Policy-Oriented Research and Evaluation —Decisions on policy need to be informed by research and evaluation results. Aspects that require public support include: (a) ongoing collection of adequate data for monitoring dietary intakes, food security, access to child nutrition programs and nutritional status of Americans for the purpose of identifying needs and assessing program impacts; (b) improving data and methods, especially measurement of outcomes, to evaluate nutrition education provided through EFNEP, WIC, Food Stamp Nutrition Education, and other programs. SNE's Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior is our method for dissemination and historic access.
To view information on how SNE arrived at the priority issues, please click here.