On July 13th, 2023, The Child and Student Nutrition Alliance Held a webinar to discuss the Farm Bill and its impact on children’s health. Claire Borzner, Senior Professional Staff, and Khadija Jahfiya, Professional Staff, from the Senate Agriculture Committee explained the current state of the Farm Bill and ways to bolster children’s voices in negotiations. The Farm Bill is set to expire at the end of September, and the committee should have a draft at the end of September. There is a possibility that the current Farm Bill will need a short-term extension until the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Every five years, the reauthorization of the Farm Bill creates the opportunity to ensure the improvement of food and nutrition security, improving children’s health and development in the United States. Ultimately, children’s voices and futures must be supported in reauthorizing the Farm Bill. Attendees were urged to conduct outreach using the messaging resources provided.
By Ellison Olson, Policy Intern