Jerry Moran: “2 weeks ago, I spoke on the Senate floor about some of my concerns with the pending legislation that we have been…”

“2 weeks ago, I spoke on the Senate floor about some of my concerns with the pending legislation that we have been talking about now--a number of appropriations bills--including the committee report on agriculture. The last time we visited about this, I talked about the GIPSA rules. I wish to focus on one more area of concern in this appropriations bill; that is, that the Department of Agriculture has proposed a rule to revise the nutrition requirements for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. In its current form, the rule contains some impractical nutrition standards and goals. I don't think there is any question that all of us in the Senate, and certainly every parent I know, would want--we all want our children to have nutritious food and we want them to have nutritious food at home and at school. That is not the point. It is not the question. What I question is whether the Department of Agriculture's rule is realistic for schools, and for those who provide food to the schools, whether they are able to comply with this new rule. For example, as written, the rule would exclude many nutritious vegetables in school meal programs. Appropriately, the Senate adopted an amendment offered by Senator Collins of Maine, which I supported, that allows school nutritionists to continue to make their own recommendations based upon the most recent dietary guidelines for Americans, rather than having to follow the mandates issued in this latest USDA rule.…”