CSBA Opposes Harkin Amendment to 2007 Farm Bill

Amendment would impose unfunded mandate, dictate selection of food, beverages offered to students

West Sacramento, CA – The California School Boards Association today issued a call for action to its members to urge U.S. Senators Boxer and Feinstein to oppose the Harkin Amendment to the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419).  Senator Harkin (D-IA) will offer an amendment to the Farm Bill of 2007 this week that would establish nationwide school nutrition standards for all foods and beverages sold in schools.  The U.S. Senate will act on the amendment and the bill this week. 

The new standards would apply to all items sold in vending machines, a la carte lines, school stores and other campus venues throughout the school day. The amendment would impose an unfunded mandate on schools by dictating what kinds of foods and beverages schools are able to offer their students without any federal funding to offset the potential costs to school districts.

“The Harkin Amendment would affect all school districts by imposing burdensome requirements on schools outside of the federally subsidized school breakfast and lunch programs,” said Scott P. Plotkin, CSBA executive director. “Further, by codifying a particular nutrition standard in statute, this amendment would restrict the authority of school boards to address local school nutrition issues.”

While CSBA believes school nutrition is an important part of fostering a healthy learning environment for children, CSBA opposes additional mandates and regulations outside of the federally subsidized school meals program that would limit local control. 

“Local school boards, in partnership with their communities, are in the best position to determine how to foster a healthy learning environment for their students,” said Dr. Kathy Kinley, CSBA president. 

For more information about the amendment visit www.csba.org.