OSNA Members,
Now, when one in every six children suffer from hunger in the United States, millions of American school children could lose access to meals served through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) if some Members of Congress get their way.
This is why SNA has launched the Stop the Block Coalition and website (stopblockgrantsnow.org). The Coalition, comprised of a network of allied organizations across the nation, will advocate against Block Grants for school nutrition programs and urge Congress to live up to its commitment to American children at risk of hunger. SNA is currently working to enlist coalition members.
Individuals are encouraged to join the fight by sending a letter to their legislators, sharing the #StoptheBlock FAQs and infographic on social media, and continuing local education efforts on the detrimental nature of block granting school nutrition programs.
The School Nutrition Association (SNA) and the American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) have joined forces to support The Healthy Breakfast Helps Kids Learn Act of 2017 (HR 3738). This bill would provide an additional 6 cents in commodity support for the School Breakfast Program (SBP). This means that if the bill were to pass, schools would receive 6 cents for each breakfast served to spend on commodities. As of this time, there is no commodity support for breakfast, only lunch.
Oregon’s very own Chris Facha is the national president of ACDA and has played a huge part in this collaborative support of the bill sponsored by representatives McGovern ( D-MA) and Davis (R-IL).
Get the scoop by downloading these information sheets:
OSNA Legislative News on HR 3738
Sept. 12 SNA Press Release: Reps. McGovern & Davis Introduce “Healthy Breakfasts Help Kids Learn Act
Oregon State Representative Brian Clem and others have provided a letter of support for passage of House Bill 2721 to the State Legislature’s Ways and Means Committee. If passed, HB 2721 would amend and expand Oregon’s current Farm to School and School Gardens program from $1.3 million per biennium serving 19 school districts to $5.6 million ensuring that all 190 school districts in the state may participate.
Click here to download and read a PDF copy of the letter.
The Oregon State Legislature is currently considering House Bill 2721 which would expand farm to school and school garden programs by increasing funding for school districts to purchase Oregon-grown and processed products and to provide agriculture, food and garden-based education, and by making that funding available to all districts in the state.
In 2011 the legislature created a pilot program, and in 2013 expanded the successful program to $1.2 million in grants to school districts. HB 2721, which is being considered by the legislature now, makes some revisions to and expands the current farm to school and school garden grants, so they it would be available to all districts in the state.
HB 2721 is now in the Ways and Means committee, which makes budget decisions. We are asking for your active support by sending a brief email to the members of the committee in support of this bill.
Please click here to send a message to the members of the Ways and Means Committee asking for their support. Feel free to customize your letter with information about what farm to school and school garden programs mean to you, or just send the sample as written — either option is great.
With your help, we can expand this successful program and reach more kids and more producers. Thanks in advance for taking action!
We are looking for school nutrition directors to present information on the Farm to School and School Gardens funding bill (HB 2721) at several Oregon Legislature Ways and Means Committee on-the-road hearings.
If you (or someone in your district) can attend on of these meetings in your area, please let us know as soon as possible.
HEARING SITES & TIMES
Tuesday, April 14 – Lincoln City, 6:30 – 8 p.m. – Lincoln City Cultural Center
Thursday, April 16 – Gresham, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Mt. Hood Community College
Tuesday, April 21 – Portland (PCC Rock Creek), 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. – Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus
Thursday, April 23 – Springfield, 6:30 – 8 p.m. – (site to be determined)
Friday, April 24 – Klamath Falls, 5:30 – 7 p.m. – Oregon Institute of Technology
Saturday, April 25 – Grants Pass, 12:30 – 2 p.m. – Performing Arts Center Lecture Hall at Grants Pass High School
Access our e-promo with all the details and downloads, or contact Megan Kemple at mkemple@lanefood.org for more information.
Click here [petition is close] to encourage your Member of Congress to provide the necessary flexibility school nutrition operators need to provide healthy, tasty meals to America’s students while maintaining a financially viable program.
