EXAM 2: Policy Overview And Federal Nutrition Policies

Question 1

Policy definition

Answer 1

A plan or course of action intended to influence and guide decisions, actions, and other matters

Question 2

Health Policy definition

Answer 2

Decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific healthcare goals within a society

Question 3

Political Process definition

Answer 3

Trying to get something you want by presenting compelling reasons why the existing situation should be changed

Question 4

What law branch does the USDA and HHS fit in

Answer 4

Executive branch as they are a part of the presidents cabinet

Question 5

What is a bill

Answer 5

Proposed legislation being considered by congress

Question 6

What is a law

Answer 6

A bill that has been approved/passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president to become law
Provides a broad definition of the policy
Provides set standards, principles and procedures that must be followed in society

Question 7

Look over how a bill becomes a law

Question 8

How do we get to a bill?

Answer 8

A bill is an idea that someone wants to become a law
The idea can come from ANYONE (groups or individuals)
The idea gets drafted into a bill -> written in legal language
A legislator must sponsor the bill

Question 9

Laws cannot be enforced unless there are ________ _________

Answer 9

Funds available

Question 10

What are the two types of federal spending

Answer 10

Mandatory spending and Discretionary spending

Question 11

What is mandatory spending and what are examples

Answer 11

Required by law
Does not take place through appropriations legislation
Ex: SNAP, Medicare, Medicaid, NSLP
Entitlement Programs
- Programs that require provision of benefits to anybody who is eligible
Congress can affect spending by changing eligibility requirements

Question 12

What is discretionary spending and what is an example

Answer 12

It is optional
Requires annual appropriations bill
Ex: WIC
Appropriation
The president submits a budget to Congress for the federal government every fiscal year
- Congress then passes appropriations bills to provide money to carry out government departments, agencies and programs for that year

Question 13

What is appropriation

Answer 13

When money is set aside money for a specific and particular purpose or purposes

Question 14

What are appropriations bills

Answer 14

Provides the legal authority needed to spend or obligate U.S Treasury funds
- There are 12 annual appropriations bills which together fund the entire federal government
- Must all be enacted prior to the start of a new fiscal year
- Congress sets funding every year

Question 15

Why do government shutdowns occur?

Answer 15

Government shutdowns occur when funding legislation required to finance the federal government is not enacted before the next fiscal year begins

Question 16

Why are US government shutdowns important to nutrition professionals?

Answer 16

Agency activities and services stop, non-essential operations stop, non-essential workers are furloughed
- Retain only essential employees in departments that protect human life or property
- close national parks and institutions

Question 17

After a law is passed…

Answer 17

Rules are made

Question 18

What happens during the pre-rule phase after a law is passed

Answer 18

Agencies charged with implementing the law (e.g. USDA) have to interpret how the law will be put into practice and what penalties will be imposed if the law is violated
“The details”

Question 19

What happens during the proposed rule phase after a law is passed

Answer 19

Federal law requires a period of public comment (30-60 days) on proposed rules
*Opportunity for community nutritionists and dietitians

Question 20

What happens during the final rule phase after a law is passed

Answer 20

After comments, final rules are issued & published in the Code of Federal Regulations

Question 21

What is the federal register

Answer 21

A weekly publication that contains all rules and proposed rules

Question 22

What is regulations.gov

Answer 22

The place submit your comments on proposed rules

Question 23

What is a law

Answer 23

System of regulations that are made to govern people, to help them in their conduct according to the norms of the society
More general in nature, and not complicated. We get to see what we should do and not do directly.
What should be and what shouldn’t be done. To protect people from unfair practices and to maintain public order

Question 24

What is an act

Answer 24

Piece of legislation that is more specific and applies to particular circumstances and specific people
Acts are made by the government, to let people know about provisions pertaining to a specific situation, and how and why public is required to follow these mandatory rules and regulations
Through an Act, the ideas of the gov’t are made mandatory for people of the country
Why and how laws are enforced. To let people know the rules and regulations about specific situations

Question 25

What is the difference between the law vs. acts

Answer 25

Laws are what should be and should not be done, to protect people from unfair practices and maintain public order while acts are why and how laws are enforced, to let people know the rules and regulations about specific situations
Example: There are laws against drunk driving and people are aware of them while DUI is the specific act that pertains to drunk driving

Question 26

What is the Agricultural Act (Farm Bill)

Answer 26

Comprehensive legislation that governs America’s nutrition and agriculture policy
- includes food security programs (SNAP)

Question 27

How often is the agricultural act (farm bill) renewed

Answer 27

Renewed every 5 years through reauthorization process

Question 28

What are the nutrition programs covered by the Agricultural Act

Answer 28

Domestic food and nutrition and commodity distribution
- For Americans below the poverty line: SNAP, TEFAP
- For Seniors: Commodity Supplemental food program, Seniors Farmers Markets
- For children and low income families: USDA snack program, community food project grants
- For American Indians: Food distribution programs
- For Urban Agriculture: Urban food Enterprise development center

Question 29

When did the farm bill become law

Answer 29

2018

Question 30

What is the Child Nutrition and WIC reauthorization act

Answer 30

Authorizes all federal school meal and child nutrition programs

Question 31

What are the programs included in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act

Answer 31

WIC and WIC Farmers Market Program
National School Lunch Program
School Breakfast program
Child and Adult Care Food program
Summer Food Service program
Afterschool Snack and Meal program
Special Milk program
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program

Question 32

Does the child nutrition and WIC reauthorization act include SNAP?

Answer 32

No

Question 33

How often is the CN&WICRA authorized

Answer 33

The programs are permanently authorized
- Congress reviews and reauthorizes every ~5 years

Question 34

What is the history of the CN&WICRA

Answer 34

Richard B. Russell National School lunch Act
- Signed by President Truman in 1946
- First established the national school lunch program
Child Nutrition Act
- Signed by President Johnson in 1966
- First established the school breakfast program
Setbacks in 1980s and 90s
- Budget cuts
- Weakened nutrition standards
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
- Included the most significant changes to child nutrition programs since the 1970s including healthier school meal standards

Question 35

What the changes of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act for the CN&WICRA

Answer 35

Changes for schools:
- Healthier school meal standards
- Increase of six cents in the reimbursement rate per meal
- Reduced paperwork for parents and schools
- Mandatory Funding of Farm-to-School Grant program
Changes for WIC:
- Electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system

Question 36

What is the Nutrition Labeling and Education act of 1990

Answer 36

The FDA oversees labeling:
- Requires nutrition labeling of most foods (that are regulated by the FDA)
- Regulates nutrition content claims (e.g. “high fiber)
Helps consumers make informed food choices and maintain healthy dietary practices

Question 37

What is the federal food, drug and cosmetic act

Answer 37

Nutrition labeling amendment passed in the Affordable care act of 2010
Calorie and other nutrition information be provided to customers in restaurants

Question 38

Overview of the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act

Answer 38

Mandates National Nutrition Monitoring and research
Mandates the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
(Nutrition policy making, nutrition research, nutrition monitoring)