- Email: [email protected]
Public policy update
FROM SNE
I
President's Message
We have accomplished much in the past few months, but the challenge of securing SNE's future still faces us. Our capital and membership campaign culminated in $19,220 in contributions, 134 new individual members, 5 new corporate patron members, and a membership renewal rate of about 86%, despite the dues increase. While the campaign did not meet our goals, the contributions received, together with excellent management in our headquarters office, resulted in our ending 1991 with a debt of only $3500. The debt projected last July was $50,00 to $100,000! We have every right to be proud of these accomplishments, and I believe we can also be cautiously optimistic about SNE's
I
future. But that optimism must be tempered by the realities of the Society's financial situation. Our income between now and the next major cycle for membership renewal (July 1992) will not be adequate to cover our operational costs. Efforts to obtain a loan to financially bridge this period were not successful. We will, therefore, have to use projected income from the '92 Annual Meeting to cover premeeting operation costs. For those reasons, the importance of high attendance at that meeting cannot be over-emphasized. Each registrant will not only join in celebrating SNE's Silver Anniversary but will also contribute to securing its future. On the optimistic side, all indicators do
I
Public Policy Update
Congress has set an aggressive agenda for this election year and will tackle many domestic affairs. Extended unemployment benefits, health care reform, proposed tax cuts, and budget fights between proponents of military and domestic spending will dominate the federal agenda. Secretary Madigan's nutrition initiative has received an increase of about $38 million for nutrition education, $5 million for nutrition monitoring, and $5 million for nutrition research in the proposed budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. President Bush's budget included increases of 1) $5 million for the Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET), raising funding from $10 million in FY 1992 to $15 million in FY 1993; 2) $2 million for EFNEP; 3) $12.5 million for intensive education for WIC participants through the Extension Service; 4) $4 million for new training materials for Extension; and 5) $500,000 for grants to reach food stamp partiCipants. This last grants program was authorized by a provision in the 1990 farm bill that was secured by SNE. In the administration's proposed budget, the WIC program showed a $300 million dollar increase over FY 1992 funding, including $10 million more for WIC nutrition education. Funding for other food assistance
I
programs in the President's budget, however, remained level. The Society for Nutrition Education will seek full funding for the proposed nutrition initiative at USDA and will advocate for the budget to include the Mickey Leland Memorial Domestic Hunger Relief Act. SNE members should contact their representatives in Congress and urge support for increases in the nutrition programs. In order to develop a five year strategic plan for the NET program, USDA's Nutrition and Technical Services Division of the Food and Nutrition Service will sponsor a meeting in March, to be attended by USDA regional and state NET coordinators and directors of Child Nutrition Programs. Increased funding for NET over the past few years offers an opportunity for nutrition educators to design a national framework that can help children learn about nutrition and how to choose nutritious meals. SNE will be represented at this conference. Health care reform advances SWiftly. The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee reported a health care bill that features a "play or pay" approach (see "Public Policy Update" in the January/ February 1992 issue ofJNE), and incorporates a preventive health care package. 51
point to a very successful, well-attended '92 Annual Meeting. The SNE Headquarters is functioning smoothly in its new location and is proving to be very cost effective. SNE is gaining prestige and recognition for its very important role in promoting nutrition education and for its influential presence in the legislative arena. As your current preSident, and on behalf of the SNE Board of Directors, I want to express a deep and sincere gratitude for the commitment and support you, the SNE members, have made to securing SNE's future. Although that security is not yet a reality, it is within our reach. Let's continue to exert the effort needed to grasp it. Barbara M. Shannon, Ph.D., R.D. President, 1991-1992
The American Dietetic Association has led a movement to include coverage of nutritional assessment as part of any preventive package. Although many health care advocates doubt if any health care reforms will actually pass Congress this session, the issue will be a hot topic during the campaign year, and this increased Visibility could prove to be beneficial for future advocacy. Congress must revise the Older American Act to settle the difference between the Senate and the House versions. Both versions would require the employment of a full-time nutrition speCialist, both in the Administration on Aging and at the state level; however, the House and Senate differ on what each would accept as appropriate credentials for an individual in the position. SNE has urged the acceptance of a broad definition that would include recognition of a registered dietitian as well as individuals with a graduate degree from an accredited nutrition program or who have passed a state or national examination for registration or certification. In January 1992, Food and Drug Administration David Kessler announced his goal of developing a nutrition label aimed at children ages 6 to 12, which the food industry could voluntarily incorporate into their standard food label. KIDSNET, a computerized clearinghouse for children's television and radio programs, will develop the label with advice from nutrition educators, market researchers, food industry
52
FROM SNE
representatives, voluntary health organizations, and health professionals. The children's label will then be used as a launching pad for nutrition education campaigns on television and in schools. KIDSNET has already sponsored a half-day conference to generate ideas for the program. Four SNE members served as panelists. At an FDA/USDA public hearing on food labeling, SNE testified to the need for a comprehensive, government-generated public education program on nutrition labeling. The Society also urged the FDA to continue testing with consumers such proposed labeling concepts as health claims, nutrient descriptors, mandatory
nutrition information, and recommended dietary values. SNE also submitted extensive comments on the various food labeling regulations. SNE will participate in the Food Label Education Working Group, a public-private partnership launched to ensure that G,onsumers understand the new food labels. On the international front, the WHO and FAO of the United Nations will convene an International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) in Rome, Italy, December 5-11, 1992. This intergovernmental conference will be the first forum to consider global concerns about food, nutrition, and health from a political perspective. Partici-
pating countries will submit papers assessing nutrition and diet-related problems. The United States has prepared two papers, one on nutrition trends in the U.S. and one on U.S. foreign food assistance. SNE members are planning to hold a session on the ICN at this year's Annual Meeting in Washington. Nancy Chapman, M.P.H., R.D. Director of Public Policy, SNE 1723 U Street, N. W. Washington, DC 20009 202-659-1858; FAX 202-3875553
• Photo on the front cover of the JanlFeb '92 Supplement issue was provided courtesy of the Christian Children's Fund.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUTRITION (ICN) The International Conference on Nutrition (ICN)-to be jOintly convened by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Rome, Italy, December 5-11, 1993-will be the first intergovernmental conference at which food, nutrition and health will be considered globally from a political standpOint. The Conference and its preparatory meetings will be open to all Member Countries of F AO and WHO and also to interested intergovernmental and some nongovernmental organizations. For further information, please contact Timmie Jensen, ICN AdviSOry, FAO Liaison Office for North America, 1001 22nd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20437; (202) 653-2452; FAX (202) 653-5760.
I
President's Message
We have accomplished much in the past few months, but the challenge of securing SNE's future still faces us. Our capital and membership campaign culminated in $19,220 in contributions, 134 new individual members, 5 new corporate patron members, and a membership renewal rate of about 86%, despite the dues increase. While the campaign did not meet our goals, the contributions received, together with excellent management in our headquarters office, resulted in our ending 1991 with a debt of only $3500. The debt projected last July was $50,00 to $100,000! We have every right to be proud of these accomplishments, and I believe we can also be cautiously optimistic about SNE's
I
future. But that optimism must be tempered by the realities of the Society's financial situation. Our income between now and the next major cycle for membership renewal (July 1992) will not be adequate to cover our operational costs. Efforts to obtain a loan to financially bridge this period were not successful. We will, therefore, have to use projected income from the '92 Annual Meeting to cover premeeting operation costs. For those reasons, the importance of high attendance at that meeting cannot be over-emphasized. Each registrant will not only join in celebrating SNE's Silver Anniversary but will also contribute to securing its future. On the optimistic side, all indicators do
I
Public Policy Update
Congress has set an aggressive agenda for this election year and will tackle many domestic affairs. Extended unemployment benefits, health care reform, proposed tax cuts, and budget fights between proponents of military and domestic spending will dominate the federal agenda. Secretary Madigan's nutrition initiative has received an increase of about $38 million for nutrition education, $5 million for nutrition monitoring, and $5 million for nutrition research in the proposed budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. President Bush's budget included increases of 1) $5 million for the Nutrition Education and Training Program (NET), raising funding from $10 million in FY 1992 to $15 million in FY 1993; 2) $2 million for EFNEP; 3) $12.5 million for intensive education for WIC participants through the Extension Service; 4) $4 million for new training materials for Extension; and 5) $500,000 for grants to reach food stamp partiCipants. This last grants program was authorized by a provision in the 1990 farm bill that was secured by SNE. In the administration's proposed budget, the WIC program showed a $300 million dollar increase over FY 1992 funding, including $10 million more for WIC nutrition education. Funding for other food assistance
I
programs in the President's budget, however, remained level. The Society for Nutrition Education will seek full funding for the proposed nutrition initiative at USDA and will advocate for the budget to include the Mickey Leland Memorial Domestic Hunger Relief Act. SNE members should contact their representatives in Congress and urge support for increases in the nutrition programs. In order to develop a five year strategic plan for the NET program, USDA's Nutrition and Technical Services Division of the Food and Nutrition Service will sponsor a meeting in March, to be attended by USDA regional and state NET coordinators and directors of Child Nutrition Programs. Increased funding for NET over the past few years offers an opportunity for nutrition educators to design a national framework that can help children learn about nutrition and how to choose nutritious meals. SNE will be represented at this conference. Health care reform advances SWiftly. The Senate Health and Human Resources Committee reported a health care bill that features a "play or pay" approach (see "Public Policy Update" in the January/ February 1992 issue ofJNE), and incorporates a preventive health care package. 51
point to a very successful, well-attended '92 Annual Meeting. The SNE Headquarters is functioning smoothly in its new location and is proving to be very cost effective. SNE is gaining prestige and recognition for its very important role in promoting nutrition education and for its influential presence in the legislative arena. As your current preSident, and on behalf of the SNE Board of Directors, I want to express a deep and sincere gratitude for the commitment and support you, the SNE members, have made to securing SNE's future. Although that security is not yet a reality, it is within our reach. Let's continue to exert the effort needed to grasp it. Barbara M. Shannon, Ph.D., R.D. President, 1991-1992
The American Dietetic Association has led a movement to include coverage of nutritional assessment as part of any preventive package. Although many health care advocates doubt if any health care reforms will actually pass Congress this session, the issue will be a hot topic during the campaign year, and this increased Visibility could prove to be beneficial for future advocacy. Congress must revise the Older American Act to settle the difference between the Senate and the House versions. Both versions would require the employment of a full-time nutrition speCialist, both in the Administration on Aging and at the state level; however, the House and Senate differ on what each would accept as appropriate credentials for an individual in the position. SNE has urged the acceptance of a broad definition that would include recognition of a registered dietitian as well as individuals with a graduate degree from an accredited nutrition program or who have passed a state or national examination for registration or certification. In January 1992, Food and Drug Administration David Kessler announced his goal of developing a nutrition label aimed at children ages 6 to 12, which the food industry could voluntarily incorporate into their standard food label. KIDSNET, a computerized clearinghouse for children's television and radio programs, will develop the label with advice from nutrition educators, market researchers, food industry
52
FROM SNE
representatives, voluntary health organizations, and health professionals. The children's label will then be used as a launching pad for nutrition education campaigns on television and in schools. KIDSNET has already sponsored a half-day conference to generate ideas for the program. Four SNE members served as panelists. At an FDA/USDA public hearing on food labeling, SNE testified to the need for a comprehensive, government-generated public education program on nutrition labeling. The Society also urged the FDA to continue testing with consumers such proposed labeling concepts as health claims, nutrient descriptors, mandatory
nutrition information, and recommended dietary values. SNE also submitted extensive comments on the various food labeling regulations. SNE will participate in the Food Label Education Working Group, a public-private partnership launched to ensure that G,onsumers understand the new food labels. On the international front, the WHO and FAO of the United Nations will convene an International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) in Rome, Italy, December 5-11, 1992. This intergovernmental conference will be the first forum to consider global concerns about food, nutrition, and health from a political perspective. Partici-
pating countries will submit papers assessing nutrition and diet-related problems. The United States has prepared two papers, one on nutrition trends in the U.S. and one on U.S. foreign food assistance. SNE members are planning to hold a session on the ICN at this year's Annual Meeting in Washington. Nancy Chapman, M.P.H., R.D. Director of Public Policy, SNE 1723 U Street, N. W. Washington, DC 20009 202-659-1858; FAX 202-3875553
• Photo on the front cover of the JanlFeb '92 Supplement issue was provided courtesy of the Christian Children's Fund.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUTRITION (ICN) The International Conference on Nutrition (ICN)-to be jOintly convened by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Rome, Italy, December 5-11, 1993-will be the first intergovernmental conference at which food, nutrition and health will be considered globally from a political standpOint. The Conference and its preparatory meetings will be open to all Member Countries of F AO and WHO and also to interested intergovernmental and some nongovernmental organizations. For further information, please contact Timmie Jensen, ICN AdviSOry, FAO Liaison Office for North America, 1001 22nd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20437; (202) 653-2452; FAX (202) 653-5760.