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
  • 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 (2015)
  • 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:

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:

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:

  • FDA Comments on Nutrition Facts Label Added Sugars
  • Senator Gillibrand Nutrition Education Bill Sign-On Letter
  • Local School Wellness Policy Implementation
  • Food Marketing Workgroup Kids LiveWell Program

  • 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

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:

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:

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:

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