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ASN Health and Nutrition Policy Newsletter
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| American Society for Nutrition Newsletter |
June, 2017 |
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Congressional Action
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Congress Receives President's FY 2018 Budget
For years, the Presidential budgets are usually considered "dead on arrival" on Capitol Hill, and this year is no exception. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 President's budget reflects many of the promises made on the campaign trail or principles set forth in Executive Actions. Members of Congress from Senate and House and both parties, including leaders of Senate Agriculture Committee, have noted their intentions to draft budgets in line with their constituents' priorities which may or may not align with the President's. It is unclear whether a Congressional Budget that informs appropriators will emerge this year, as none has been passed since 2013. Meanwhile, Appropriations Committees in both chambers have been hearing from government witnesses about their budgetary needs. The Senate Republicans are busy drafting legislation to reform health care which is their highest priority.
CBO Numbers Reported on House Passed Health Bill
After the House passed the
HR 1628 - American Health Care Act of 2017
on May 4, the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) completed a
May 24 cost estimate
of the direct spending and revenue effects of the bill. Enacting that version of HR 1628 would reduce the cumulative federal deficit over the 2017-2026 period by $119 billion, less $32 billion than the
cost estimate
for the earlier March 22 version of the bill. CBO and JCT estimate that, in 2018, 14 million more people would be uninsured under HR 1628 than under current law. In 2020, it climbs to 19 million and 23 million in 2026 more than current law and an estimated 51 million uninsured people under age 65 in total.
Given these numbers, Senator McConnell and other Republican leaders in the Senate note the Republicans will be writing their own version of a bill to repeal and replace Obama Care. Most recently, these voices have been
more guarded
and pessimistic about the Senate passing an overhaul of the nation's healthcare system, acknowledging it will be difficult to reach 50 votes. Because the provisions of the American Health Care Act have mostly budget implications, only a simple majority is required versus a 60 vote for passage of authorizing legislation. Reflections on the careful balance of provisions to ensure quality health care to the greatest number of individuals at the most affordable price found in the Affordable Care Act has also included examination of the impact of that law on the health of Americans. A recent
article
by Dr. Benjamin Sommers and others from Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health found changes in health care use and self-reported health after three years of the ACA's coverage expansion resulted in "a 41-percentage-point increase in having a usual source of care, a $337 reduction in annual out-of-pocket spending, significant increases in preventive health visits and glucose testing, and a 23-percentage-point increase in "excellent" self-reported health."
USDA Secretary Perdue Testifies at House Appropriations Committee Hearing
Just after the release of the President's Budget, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue defended the numbers for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Nutrition Service, and Related Agencies before the
House Appropriations Committee hearing
that he had not computed. Perdue's testimony and remarks
focused
more on the figures for the FY 2018 budget than on the impact of the proposed cuts to nearly every Agriculture Department program, including research. He did not disagree with assessments of members of the House Committee regarding the proposed cuts.
House Holds Hearing on State of the Rural Economy
On May 17, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue
appeared
at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on the Rural Economy. There was no mention of research directly, but Perdue did note "since our taxpayers are also consumers, we know they expect a safe and secure food supply, and USDA is committed to continue to serve in the critical role of ensuring the food we put on the table to feed our families meets the strict safety standards we've established. By having the best science and data, we will be able to make strong strategic decisions that will transcend generations, not just the next budget cycle or farm bill."
As the farm bill shapes up, Members of Congress are introducing bills they hope will become part of the final Congress approved bill. As an example,
HR 2436, the Organic Agriculture Research Act
,
was introduced by Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) to increases funding for USDA's flagship organic research program, the Organic Research and Extension Initiative (OREI), from $20 million to $50 million annually.
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Administrative Action
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President Trump's Budget Released
On May 23, the President released the
FY 2018 budget
includes a $54 billion increase in defense spending, which is fully offset by $54 billion in reductions to non-defense programs. The Budget provides
details
on the spending reductions and on additional savings and reforms that balance the budget by 2027. Many proposals rebalance the State-Federal partnership, including returning to the historic Federal matching rate, and increasing State flexibility, while increasing funding for infrastructure and paid family leave and not cutting Medicare and Social Security. Below are some details from the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) budget numbers.
USDA Budget
Agency BA* FY 2017 BA FY 2018 BA FY 2019
NIFA 1467m 1407m 1342m
ARS 1378m 805m 1017m
ERS 85 m 77 m 77 m
SNAP 78,487m 68,718m 66,580m
WIC 6,559m 5,151m 6,161m
Child Nutrition 22,844m 24,447m 25,456m
*BA - Budget Authority
Budget Notes: The President's budget continues support for farmer-focused research and extension partnerships and focuses in-house research funding within the Agricultural Research Service to the highest priority agriculture and food issues such as increasing farming productivity, sustaining natural resources, and addressing food safety and nutrition priorities. The Budget for
ARS research programs
places an emphasis on highest priority basic research on agriculture and food issues and makes efforts to support the transfer of research and development products to industry. ARS budget will include $45 million for the Human Nutrition program. The Budget proposes the termination of lower-priority and extramural research projects and closure of 17 laboratories, locations, or worksites. The request for
NIFA
is approximately $1.4 billion including nearly $350 million for AFRI. The Department continues to focus on the use of capacity funds and competitive grants to generate the solutions to the Nation's most critical food and agriculture problems.
The President's budget eliminates the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program and all of the USAID and USDA food aid programs, i.e., Food for Peace and Public 480. The large reductions in SNAP come from a new state cost-sharing requirement hitting 25 percent by 2023 that is likely to lead some states to cut benefits and eligibility and changes to employment requirements. Though cuts in WIC appear large, the drop relates to unspent funds from previous year because participation is lower and food costs are flat.
Agency BA FY 2017 BA FY 2018 BA FY 2019
NIH 31777m 25,939m 25,553m
CURES Act 404m 606m 1422m
AHRQ 333m 0m 0m
CDC 7696 m 6374 m 6436m
FDA 2761m 1951m 1970m
Budget Notes: The President's 2018 Budget decreases DHHS funding by $15.1 billion or 17.9 percent from the 2017 annualized CR level to support the Highest Priority Biomedical Research and Development. Savings come from reducing reimbursement of indirect costs (and thus focusing a higher percentage of spending on direct research costs) and implementing changes to the National Institutes of Health's structure to improve efficiencies in the research enterprise; eliminating the Fogarty International Center; consolidating the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality within NIH; reducing administrative costs and rebalancing Federal contributions to research funding, and making other consolidations and structural changes across NIH organizations and activities. In 2018, the HHS and NIH will develop policies to reduce the burden of regulation on recipients of NIH funding consistent with the Administration's initiatives on regulatory reform and the goals articulated for the new Research Policy Board established in the 21st Century Cures Act.
Food and Drug Administration (
FDA
)
funding has been decreased by $70.958 billion compared to the FY 2017 CR. CFSAN will continue responding to outbreaks, working with industry to implement FSMA regulations, reviewing infant formula notifications, helping to ensure the safety of dietary supplements, conducting reviews of food ingredients and packaging, and ensuring that foods are safe and properly labeled. The final effective date of menu labeling had been extended May 2018.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
savings come in part through a new $500 million block grant, using less than the FY 2017 $850 million in Prevention Funds, to increase State flexibility and focus on the leading public health challenges specific to each State and eliminates several CDC agencies and programs including: nutrition, physical activity, and obesity; REACH, tobacco prevention and control; diabetes; heart disease and stroke; and arthritis. The National Center for Health Statistics is cut by $5 million within the CDC budget.
New Publication on Obesity and National Security
The CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, in partnership with Mission Readiness, has released a new infographic,
Unfit to Serve - Obesity is Impacting National Security
. "This infographic outlines how the obesity epidemic in the United States impacts our national security."
New NIH Management Director
Alfred C. Johnson, Ph.D. became the new NIH Deputy Director for Management, effective May 28, 2017, after serving as Acting Deputy Director for a year. Since 2006, he was the Director of the NIH Office of Research Services (ORS). In this capacity, he planned and directed service programs for public safety,
New Interpretations Available in the Food Code Reference System (FCRS)
FDA Announces Food Code Reference System
The FDA announced the
Food Code Reference System
, a searchable database that provides access to FDA's interpretative positions and responses to questions related to the FDA Food Code to help prevent foodborne illness and injury in retail food, vending, and foodservice operations.
CDC Releases Resources for Schools Health Services
The CDC
released new resources
for school health professionals to help with their role in managing chronic disease in schools. The resources included focus on acute and emergency care, care coordination, chronic disease management, and family engagement.
USDA Issues Memo on Transition Period for New Meal Patterns for CACFP
A
May 17 USDA memo
confirms FNS's understanding that major transitions to implement the new Child and Adult Care Food Program meal patterns can be difficult for everyone involved and will provide ample time to train everyone on proper implementation of the new regulations. During the first year of implementation, technical assistance will be offered instead of punitive action. There are also new
Meal Pattern Training Tools
.
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National Initiatives
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FFAR Call for Expert Reviewers
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR)
seeks expert reviewers
from academia, federal and state governments, industry, commodity groups, professional organizations, and other groups to evaluate research proposals submitted in response to calls for proposals in our priority
Challenge Areas
. Responses to this ongoing call will be added to a reviewer database and be called upon based on their particular expertise.
IFIC Releases Annual Food and Health Survey
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation released the results of its annual food and health survey,
"A Healthy Perspective: Understanding American Food Values"
. This consumer perception survey gives an interesting insight into how consumers make food and health decisions. You can download the
full report here
and view a
summary here
.
Rally for Medical Research Registration Open
Registration
is now open for
the 5th Annual "Rally for Medical Research Hill Day"! Held every September, this Capitol Hill Day event includes nearly 300 national organizations coming together in support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Make plans to join ASN in Washington, D.C. (and on Capitol Hill) on Thursday, September 14, 2017, for the "Rally Hill Day" meetings to call on our nation's policymakers to make funding for NIH a national priority! Please let
Sarah Ohlhorst
know if you plan to attend.
The registration deadline is Monday, August 29, 2016.
Industry Groups Commit to Smaller Pack Sizes
At the annual Partnership for a Healthier America meeting, held in Washington, DC, candy makers including Mars, Nestle, Ferrera Candy, and Ferrero committed to making 50% of their individual portioned products less than 200 calories by 2022. The companies also plan to educate consumers on the role of candy, as a treat, in the diet.
Consumer Groups Sue FDA, Alleging Lax Oversight of Additives
In a lawsuit, the Center for Food Safety, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Environmental Defense Fund, the Environmental Working Group and Earth justice, argue that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s GRAS rule, finalized in 2016, falls short of consumer expectations and runs afoul of Congress' intent. The
suit
was filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
National Academies Announces Committee for Science Breakthroughs 2030 Food and Agriculture Study
The year-long
Breakthroughs 2030 Food and Agriculture study will explore novel scientific approaches suggested by members of the scientific community, with special attention to those ideas empowered by insights and tools from disciplines of science and engineering not typically associated with food and agriculture. For more information on the study, visit the Science Breakthroughs 2030
website
. The new committee is listed
here
, which includes a number of ASN members
. Sign up to receive the agenda for the first committee meeting (June 14-15, 2017 in Washington, DC) by
subscribing
to the study email list.
National Academies Releases Nutrition for Healthy Aging Workshop Proceedings and Multi Sector Community Health Brief
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Food Forum convened a workshop with five objectives regarding nutrition and the aging U.S. population. The
workshop report is now available
.
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| Meetings |
Healthy People Meetings
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has scheduled three Healthy People meetings during the
month of June.
Latino Health Summit
The National Council of La Raza's (NCLR) Institute for Hispanic Health (IHH) is holding their fifth annual
Health Summit
in conjunction with the 2017 NCLR annual conference. The summit hopes to allow professional to share experiences and best practices to create and protect health gains. The summit will be held June 8-11 in Phoenix, AZ.
National Academies Workshop - Achieving Rural Health Equity and Well-being: Challenges and Opportunities
On June 13, 2017, the Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity and the Elimination of Health Disparities and the Roundtable on Population Health Improvement will hold a joint workshop on Achieving Rural Health Equity and Well-Being: Challenges and Opportunities. This workshop will take place at the
Montgomery Marriott in Prattville, Alabama, and will be webcast
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| Funding Opportunities |
USDA Funding to Support University Agricultural Science Programs
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced $4.7 million in available
funding to support agricultural science programs at non-land-grant universities
. Funding is made through NIFA's Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture Program (NLGCA). NIFA's NLGCA program offers competitive grants to help these institutions maintain and expand their capacity to conduct education, research, and outreach activities in agriculture, renewable resources, and related disciplines. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2017.
USDA Funding for Rural Health and Safety Education
The USDA RHSE program proposals are expected to be community-based, outreach education programs, such as those conducted through Human Science extension outreach, that provides individuals and families with: Information as to the value of good health at any age; Information to increase individual or family's motivation to take more responsibility for their own health; Information regarding rural environmental health issues that directly impact on human health; Information about and access to health promotion and educational activities; and Training for volunteers and health services providers concerning health promotion and health care services for individuals and families in cooperation with state, local and community partners. The
deadline for applications
is June 30, 2017.
USDA Re-competes Center of Excellence for Food Safety Research in Child Nutrition Programs
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) seeks to
re-compete its Center of Excellence for Food Safety Research in Child Nutrition Programs
and continue it as the Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs. FNS administers USDA nutrition assistance programs including the NSLP, SBP, CACFP, SFSP, and others. The Center for Food Safety in Child Nutrition Programs, hereafter referred to as the Center, will provide leadership in advancing food safety research and practices within USDA FNS nutrition assistance programs.
SIREN Innovation Grants
The Social Interventions Research & Evaluation Network (SIREN) has announced a call for proposals for
Innovation Grants
that will provide up to $150,000 for evaluations of cost and/or utilization impacts on clinical interventions addressing social and economic hardships.
USDA Funding for Development of Rural Community Facilities
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that USDA is seeking applications for technical assistance and training grants in the Community Facilities program. The grants are being provided through the
Community Facilities Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; homeownership; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. The deadline for applications is June 24, 2017.
OMH Funding Opportunity for Healthier Nation Initiative
The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) administers grant programs to support projects that implement innovative models to improve minority health and reduce health disparities.
OMH expects to release a
new funding opportunity announcement
(FOA): Empowered Communities for a Healthier Nation Initiative
.
It is anticipated that the FOA will be available on June 1, 2017 with applications due by July 31, 2017, and projects to start September 30, 2017.
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International
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GMO Labeling In Canada Fails
On May 17th,
Canada's House of Commons voted against a bill
that would require foods that contain genetically modified ingredients to be labeled as such. The bill, introduced by Pierre-Luc Dusseault, did not define genetically modified or acceptable labeling practices.
EFSA Seeks Nutrition Experts
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)'s Scientific Panel on Nutrition, Novel Food and Food Allergens is
seeking experts
in nutrition, toxicology, genotoxicity, allergology, biochemistry, pharmacology or nutritional epidemiology [with] the skills and experience to assess the safety of novel and traditional foods, evaluate nutrient sources or assess the scientific substantiation of health claims. The Panel provides scientific advice in relation to human nutrition and covers a range of activities including the safety assessment of
novel foods
, the assessment of safety and suitability of substances used in infant formulae and the assessment of the allergenic potential of food ingredients. The Panel also sets the
dietary reference values
for nutrient and energy intakes. Applications may be submitted through September 8, 2017.
EFSA Releases Annual Scientific Cooperation Report
The
EFSA annual scientific cooperation report
discusses how EFSA has applied it's "Working together and exchanging expertise is an efficient way to harmonize risk assessment, maximize capacities and ensure best use of resources" principles throughout the past year. This report is used to determine how well they are working with European and international partners according to their Scientific Cooperation Roadmap 2014-2016.
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