Child Nutrition Reauthorization Postponed by Congress

This update is a follow-up to an earlier article about Child Nutrition Reauthorization. 

Last night, Congressional leaders reached an agreement on a spending bill that will prevent a government shutdown.  The text of the FY16 Omnibus Appropriations Act was released earlier today. Both the House and the Senate are expected to vote on the bill this Friday. 

The bill does not include Child Nutrition Reauthorization despite the efforts of the Senate Agriculture Committee to attach a reauthorization bill onto the omnibus.  However, the omnibus does uphold language from a 2014 omnibus that allows waivers of the whole grain requirement and postpones further sodium restrictions “until the latest scientific research establishes the reduction is beneficial for children.”

Per Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Child Nutrition Reauthorization (also known as the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act) will be considered in January or early February as a free-standing bill.

GA Foods supports healthier meals for children. We will continue to closely monitor the reauthorization of Child Nutrition Reauthorization and any potential changes to the law in 2016.