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NOTICE: NOTICES

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

SUBJECT CATEGORY: Request for Public Comments for Use in Preparing for 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children

DOCUMENT SUMMARY: This notice announces a request for public comments to help senior officials of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepare for the 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). USDA believes that public input and assessment of the performance of current programsincluding WIC, National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and Special Milk Programare essential to help the Department plan for reauthorization.

SUMMARY: Preparing 2009 Reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The nutrition assistance programs administered by USDA work together to ensure a nutrition safety net for the Nation's children, elderly, and lowincome families. These programs help protect children and lowincome households from hunger. They inform all of us about the importance of healthful diets and active lifestyles. They help to prevent the health problems associated with poor nutrition and physical inactivity for all Americans.

While these programs are designed to meet the needs of people of all ages who may require assistance, they focus most strongly on the needs of children. The Child Nutrition Programs include the school meal programs (National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which support nutritious meals and snacks served to children in schools, child care institutions, and afterschool care programs. In addition, the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer component of the National School Lunch Program provide nutritious food to children in programs in the summer months, when school is not in session.

WIC addresses the special needs of atrisk, lowincome pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to five years of age. It provides participants with monthly supplemental food packages targeted to their dietary needs, nutrition education, and referrals to a range of health and social servicesbenefits that promote a healthy pregnancy for mothers and a healthy start for their children.

Public Comment Submission

The reauthorization process provides Congress with a regular opportunity to examine the operation and effectiveness of the Federal nutrition assistance programs, and consider making improvements to their statutory structure under the Richard B. Russell
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National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 17511769i) and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 17711791). In anticipation of these discussions, USDA intends to gather input that will help the Department better understand the needs and concerns of program cooperators and participants at the State and local levels, including representatives from State agencies, local program offices, industry, and State and local advocacy groups.

This notice provides the public the opportunity to comment in writing on the issues that USDA expects to address in preparing for this reauthorization process. USDA has developed a framework of three themes to help focus the discussion of reauthorization issues. Commenters will be asked to address, but not be limited to, issues related to specific aspects of WIC, the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and Special Milk Program. Key among these are: