This month Congress will vote on a major piece of legislation on food, agriculture and nutrition policy in the U.S.  This legislation, the Farm Bill, is an opportunity to make significant changes in the availability of healthy foods and nutrition education for Americans.  

Please take a moment to send a message to your Representative in Congress. Let them know that their constituents think nutrition and health should be a major priority in the Farm Bill and that the bill should help:

• Improve the nutritional quality of school foods
• Increase the availability of fruits and vegetables in schools
• Expand research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Ensure that low-income pregnant women and small children have access to nutritious foods
• Strengthen nutrition education initiatives through the Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program.

Thank you in advance for taking action on behalf of a healthier Farm Bill.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As you know, the Farm Bill not only addresses agriculture policy, but also covers many important nutrition issues. As your constituent, I urge you to take leadership to ensure that the following nutrition priorities are included in the 2007 Farm Bill:

Update the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold out of vending machines, school stores, and other venues outside of school meals by including Representative Woolsey's and Representative Shays' bill, H.R. 1363, the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, in the Farm Bill.

Increase research at USDA by $200 million per year, with a strong emphasis on food and human nutrition research.

Ensure that the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program is expanded to all states in the country. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Snack Program provides fruit and vegetable snacks to students in participating schools. This program, which originated in the 2002 Farm Bill and currently operates in 14 states, should be expanded to reach children in all 50 states. Please support a mandatory funding level of $300 million/year.

Enhance the effectiveness of Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) program by allowing state Food Stamp Programs to use education, marketing and population-based public health approaches to increase food security and promote healthy eating, physical activity and obesity prevention for low-income Americans.

Require USDA to review and update, as necessary, the WIC Food Packages every 10 years.

I urge you to discuss your support for these important public health priorities in the 2007 Farm Bill with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson, Ranking Member Bob Goodlatte, and other members of the House Agriculture Committee. With your support, the 2007 Farm Bill can help reverse current trends in childhood obesity and improve the diets and health of our children.

Please let me know if I can count on your support for these important nutrition measures.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
June 18, 2007