Policies, Positions, and Actions

SNEB regularly participates in public policy activities as they relate to the mission and vision of the Society. By being actively involved in the conversation, SNEB can make change happen! SNEB works with candidates and members of Congress to advance SNEB's public policy priorities and raise SNEB's profile. SNEB and the Advisory Committee on Public Policy (ACPP) represent members' interests and positions nutrition educators to be the preferred providers of food, nutrition and health services. This area of the website includes positions, policy statements and letters, in addition to legislative and regulatory updates and links to Federal nutrition-related web sites.

SNEB welcomes opportunities to collaborate with like-minded organizations by signing onto letters aligning with our mission. If your organization seeks support from SNEB's Advisory Committee on Public Policy, please complete this short form to request consideration.

See the path to a public statement.

Theme 1: Federal Nutrition Safety Net Programs

1.1 Protecting and Enhancing WIC

We advocate for robust funding of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), including protection of the enhanced Cash Value Benefit (CVB) voucher for fruits and vegetables, support for breastfeeding, and broader collaborations to enhance maternal and postpartum health care.

Key Examples:

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC Expansion and FY 2022 Allocation for Agriculture Appropriations
WIC Letter for Additional Ag Approps Investments
Call for fully-funded WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program
WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Funding Support Letter
CARE for Families Act Support Letter
Wise Investment in our Children Act Support Letter
Support of Maternal Health Build Back Better Provisions
SNEB Issues Statement Denouncing Involuntary Separation of Immigrant and Refugee Infants and Minor Children from their Families
FY24 WIC Coalition Letter – 3/2023
Support for FY24 WIC Appropriations – 3/2023
WIC End-of-Year Priorities – 11/2022
Support for Extension of Enhanced WIC Fruit and Vegetable Benefits – 9/2022
Susan Stephenson-Martin’s Notes from the White House Infant Formula Briefing – 6/2022
Support for Infant Formula Actions – 5/2022
FY23 WIC coalition letter – 4/2022
WIC Act 2015 Organizational Support Letter 6/2015
2016-2017 ACPP Focus Areas
WIC Program Funding FY2018 Sign-On

1.2 Protecting and Modernizing SNAP

We are dedicated to defending the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) against budget cuts and structural changes that would compromise program access or fidelity. We also support program modernization efforts including reintegration of nutrition education opportunities.

Key Examples:

USDA restriction on states’ SNAP administration weakens national safety net
Opposition letter against revising categorical eligibility in SNAP
Joint Statement in Support of SNAP – 3/2023
Endorsement of the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Position Statement on Modernizing SNAP – 3/2023
Support McGovern amendment to restore SNAP Funding 6/2013
Organizational sign on letter opposing House farm bill HR 1947 6/2013
Letter Secretary Vilsack Farmer Market SNAP acceptance 10/2015
SNAP Action Alert for Sept. 17 National Call in Day 9/2019
2016-2017 ACPP Focus Areas
Coalition Budget Letter Circulate (urging Congress to reject funding cuts to ag, nutrition, and related programs)
Fiscal year 2015 Appropriations Committee
House Farm Bill HR 1947
2014 Farm Bill

1.3 Strengthening School Meals and Related Child Nutrition Programs

We support enhancement of school meal programs, including policies to facilitate meal access during both expected (summer) and unexpected school closures and to equip school kitchen operations for healthy food preparation. Applicable programs include NSLP, SBP, CACFP, Sun Bucks, SFSP, and farm-to-school procurement programs. We urge the USDA to align school meal pattern requirements with science-based nutrition standards.

Key Examples:

Endorsement of the School Meals during School Closures Act – 4/2023
Support Child Nutrition Programs, Evidence-Based Nutrition Standards and Expanded Access to School Meals
NANA American Families Plan Letter
Access to Healthy Food for Young Children Act
School Food Modernization Act
Child and Adult Care Food Program: Meal Pattern Revisions Related to Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program 10/2013
Professional Standards for State and Local School Nutrition Programs Personnel as Required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 4/2014
School Food Modernization Act Sign On Letter (MD)
NANA CNR Recommendations (2015)
NANA National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program

Theme 2: Chronic Disease Prevention and Management

2.1 Expanding Access to Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and Tailored Meals

We support healthcare payer coverage for Medical Nutrition Therapy and Medically Tailored Meals that would support management of diet-related chronic conditions across the life course.

Key Examples:

Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2021 (S. 1536/H.R. 3108)
Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2021 (H.R. 3108/S. 1536)

2.2 Strengthening Nutrition Literacy and Support for Healthy Lifestyles

We support efforts to strengthen nutrition literacy and improve the adoption and maintenance of health lifestyles via engaging programs, effective communication, and literacy-focused policies. This includes efforts to improve food label transparency and reduce harmful food marketing practices, particularly those targeted at children.

Key Examples:

Senator Gillibrand Nutrition Education Bill Sign On Letter
Fit Kids Sign on Letter 114th House
Local School Wellness Policy Implementation
FDA Comments Nutrition Facts Label Added Sugars
#14 Letter of Support for Adding Water to MyPlate
Letter to Dr Pepper Snapple Group
Food Marketing Workgroup Kids LiveWell Program
Office of Dietary Supplements Strategic Plan 3/2015
Open Letter FDA Milk Standards 4/2013
SNAP Interim Rule Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevent Grant Program 6/2013
SNEB Health Promotion Policy: Live Well Toledo
2015 FDA PH Food Safety Funding Letter for Review
Friendly Airports for Mothers Act Sign-On Letter

Theme 3: Foundational Nutrition Investments

3.1 Fostering Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience

We support integration of environmental sustainability considerations into nutrition policy, particularly policies authorized via the Farm Bill.

Key Examples:

Agriculture, Climate Change and Infrastructure Letter
Including Sustainability in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – 5/2022
Require the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to prioritize the field of sustainable nutrition science research within the AFRI – 4/2022

3.2 Upholding the Integrity of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA)

We support efforts to ensure that national dietary guidelines are robust, regularly updated, and scientifically grounded, including efforts to recruit a qualified advisory committee.

Key Examples:

DGA comments
SNEB Comments to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee – 4/2014
Letter of Support for Adding Water to MyPlate
Support for Farm Bill Funding for Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) – 3/2023
Requesting Increased Funding for Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) in Senate FY23 Appropriations Bill – 8/2022
Requesting Extension of 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) Nomination Period – 7/2022

3.3 Funding Federal Nutrition Research

We support robust, sustained federal funding for nutrition research as an essential investment in evidence-based practice and policy.

Key Examples:

Support for the ONR Budget
Response to RFI re: Research Opportunities to End Hunger, Food Insecurity, and Nutrition Insecurity
NIH Comments on the Data Science Challenges and Opportunities in Precision Nutrition
Agriculture Research Integrity Act Sign on Letter
Support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Nutrition Research Funding Request – 4/2023
Requesting FY24 Appropriations for DNPAO Programs (SPAN and APHN) – 3/2023
CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO) FY24 Budget Request – 10/2022
Requesting House and Senate Appropriations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Nutrition Research – 10/2022
National Nutrition Research Roadmap
CNPP and FNS Merge Comments

GENERAL/MISCELLANEOUS ADVOCACY EFFORTS

Older Americans Month S.192 National Sign-On Letter – Draft – (2015)
Older Americans Month S.192 National Sign-On Letter – Draft (2015) MS
Organizational sign on letter opposing House Farm Bill HR 1947 (2013)
HHS Appropriations Letter 302(b)
Recommendations from the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health – 7/2022
Letter to President Biden supporting the convening of a 2022 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health – 4/2022

Support for the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act 7/2026

Support for CCC Sign on Letter re DGA Process – 3/2026

SNEB Statement on 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – 2/2026

Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators Letter to Senate House Ag Cmtes – 5/2025

Support for restoration of funding for Farm to School Grants and Local Food for Schools programs – 4/2025

Support for CSPI Letter – SNAP and School Meals are Good for Business and Health – 5/2025

SNEB 2024 Farm Bill Letter- 8/2024

Continued Support for the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023 – 8/2024

Support for the 2024 FRAC Letter Opposing Farm Bill SNAP Cuts- 6/2024

Endorsement of the SBM Mandatory Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling Policy Position Statement- 4/2024

FY25 Appropriations Sign-on: Friends of WIC – 3/2024

Support for the Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Act – 1/2024