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ASN Health and Nutrition Policy Newsletter
Week of
 September 3, 2019        
American Society for Nutrition  Newsletter

September 2019
In This Issue
ASN News
Congressional Action
Administrative Action
National Initiatives
Meetings
Funding Opportunites
International
ASN News
ASN Sponsors 50th Anniversary of the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health
ASN has joined with Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health Department of Nutrition as a sponsor of the 50th Anniversary of the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health. The event will be held October 3-4, 2019 in Boston, MA. Complementing the Boston event, a Washington, DC Capitol Hill event will be held on October 30th from 2:00-4:00pm, sponsored by Congressman Jim McGovern (D, MA) in collaboration with Hunger Free America. Register here  for these events .
 
ASN Partners for Malnutrition Awareness Week
ASN has once again partnered with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition as an Ambassador for Malnutrition Awareness Week (September 23-27, 2019). ASN members can now register for Malnutrition Awareness Week webinars at no cost! Please use the discount code MAW-Nutrition to participate in the webinars for free. Continuing education credit is available for each webinar. ASPEN is accredited to provide medical, pharmacy, nursing and dietetic credits.
 
ASN Partners for National Obesity Care Week
ASN is once again a partner for the 5th Annual National Obesity Care Week (NOCW), which takes place September 15th to 21st. NOCW is a national awareness campaign to increase access to comprehensive obesity care for anyone affected by obesity. Visit ObesityCareWeek.org/Action to pledge your support!


Congressional Action
Congress is on August Recess
In less than a week, on September 9th, Senators and Representatives will return to Washington, DC. Take time this week to meet with your Congressional leaders and discuss the benefits of nutrition research and the impact of good nutrition on health, growth, and development. The month of September is going to be a sprint for lawmakers as they try to move as many of the appropriations bills possible before the new fiscal year begins on October 1st. However, with the House and Senate not returning until September 9th, Congress is left with just 13 workdays before federal funding expires at the end of September. Many leaders on Capitol Hill have set a goal of enacting the two largest spending bills before the September 30th deadline by coupling the Defense Appropriations bill and the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill, the bill that funds NIH.
 
Continuing Resolution Likely
The Senate Appropriations Committee is likely to draft a new continuing resolution to cover the fiscal year ("FY") 2020 spending if the 12 appropriations bills for the fiscal year remain unfinished. The House passed all the FY 2020 appropriations bills, which now await Senate action. Senator Richard Shelby (R, AL), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, restrained action until the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, H.R. 3877 , just before Congress left for August recess. 
 

Administrative Action
FDA Announces Upcoming Meetings
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has scheduled the 2019 Science Forum , Transforming Health: Innovation in FDA Science for September 11 and 12, 2019 in Silver Spring, Maryland. The key topic areas include: Precision Health, Advanced Technologies, Product Accessibility, Integrity, and Security, Advancing Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence, and Novel Approaches to Emerging Disease Threats or Foodborne Outbreaks. Register here  for Day 1 and here for Day 2; the deadline to register is September 6. The public workshop will also be webcast.
 
The FDA also announced a  public meeting  to discuss modernizing food standards of identity on September 27th. The FDA is particularly interested in changes that could be made across categories of standardized foods to provide flexibility for manufacturers to develop healthier foods and to facilitate innovation. Besides encouraging more nutritious options, FDA is seeking to modernize food standards of identity while still protecting consumers against economic adulteration and maintaining the basic nature, essential characteristics, and nutritional integrity of food. The September 27th meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Hilton Rockville Hotel, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852. Register online to attend the meeting in person and via live webcast. Registration closes September 20th.
 
Study Find Community-Wide Interventions for Childhood Obesity Save Money
Researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), Hofstra University, and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University have published a new study that argues that community-wide, child-focused obesity-prevention interventions can be beneficial investments. Every $1 invested in the "Shape Up Somerville: Eat Smart Play Hard" program, conducted in Somerville, MA, returned a projected $1.51 in healthcare cost and productivity losses averted. Over a 10-year time, the program benefited not only the targeted children but their parents. This study is published in the latest issue of Preventive Medicine Reports, available here.  
 
NIH Funds Eleven Research Centers in Minority Institutions
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities ("NIMHD"), part of the National Institutes of Health ("NIH"), has  funded three new awards and renewed the awards of eight institutions previously funded under the Research Centers in Minority Institutions ("RCMI") Specialized Centers program. The RCMI develops and strengthens the research infrastructure necessary to conduct state-of-the-art biomedical research and foster the next generation of researchers from underrepresented populations. The centers will share approximately $187 million over their five-year project periods, subject to available funds.
 
Mourning the Loss of Former NLM Director Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.
The NIH announced the passing on August 16th of Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D., who ser ved as the director of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) for more than 30 years. He was one of the longest-serving NIH leaders and continued his service as Director Emeritus of NLM after his retirement in March 2015. Because of his pioneering work in applying computer technology to biomedical research and health information, he is considered by many to be the country's senior statesman for computers and medicine.
 
Physical Activity Breaks for the Workplace Resource Guide
The CDC issued the Physical Activity Breaks for the Workplace Resource Guide for employers that provides resources and ideas to help employees build short (5-10-minute) activity breaks into their workdays and meetings. It presents ideas and resources for physical activity breaks that are easy, fun, low cost, and are not disruptive to the workplace. The guide is listed under the featured resources section of the Workplace Health Resource Center page at www.cdc.gov/whrc .
 
USDA ERS Finds Food Security and Food Purchase Quality Differences Among Low-Income Households
Using the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey, the Economic Research Service characterized the difference in food purchase quality of food-insecure and food-secure households in a new report, Food Security and Food Purchase Quality Among Low-Income Households . Some highlights from the report show that "Food-insecure households spend about $13 less per adult equivalent per week on food at home ("FAH") than food-secure households; spend a higher fraction of their total FAH budget at convenience stores than food-secure households do; and the total Healthy Eating Index score for the FAH purchase basket for food-insecure households (44.2) is about 10 percent lower than for food-secure households (48.9)."
 
Updates from NIH
The N IH released the Guide Notice, " Clarifying Competing Application Instructions and Notice of Publication of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Regarding Proposed Human Fetal Tissue Research . " To reduce administrative burdens and streamline business practices, NIH announced  that it will now automate the notification of applicant organizations of unsuccessful applications.
 
CDC Report on Racial Disparities in Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration
CDC analyzed National Immunization Survey-Child (NIS-Child) data for infants born in 2015 to describe breastfeeding duration and exclusivity at ages 3 and 6 months among all black and non-Hispanic white infants. Black-white differences were wider for initiation of breastfeeding than for duration or exclusivity once breastfeeding was initiated. The authors argue that "Black-white disparities in breastfeeding duration result, in part, from disparities in initiation." Click here to read full report.


National Initiatives
NASEM Seeks Experts on the Nutrient Content of Human Milk
The Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine ("NASEM") is searching for experts in the scientific, technical, and medical professions to be considered for a study committee titled "Scanning for New Evidence on the Nutrient Content of Human Milk: A Model for the Derivation of Age-Specific Nutrient Requirements."  Please submit nominations via this online form by Friday, September 13, 2019.
 
Take Action for ERS and NIFA
The American Phytopathological Society (APS) launched the  Take Action   tool to simplify the process of contacting representatives about timely political issues. The campaign outlines the short- and long-term negative impacts of moving NIFA out of the Washington, D.C. area. In a short time period, APS sent 200 messages to 105 U.S. legislators. The APS campaign is now open and will remain active until it is no longer relevant. ASN members are invited to join in this effort. This link  will take you to the online tool where you can click on the Take Action button. 
 
Trends in Adherence to the Physical Activity Guidelines
Using the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for 2007 to 2016, researchers from the University of Iowa reported the "Trends in Adherence to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for Aerobic Activity and Time Spent on Sedentary Behavior Among US Adults, 2007 to 2016". "In a series of cross-sectional studies including data from 27,343 participants 18 years or older from the national surveys, the adherence rate to the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans for aerobic activity was not significantly improved from 2007-2008 (63.2%) to 2015-2016 (65.2%). However, time spent on sedentary behavior increased from 5.7 hours per day in 2007-2008 to 6.4 hours per day in 2015-2016." Click here to read the new publication in JAMA Network Open.
 
2020 NNDC Recognition Award
The Executive Committee of the National Nutrient Databank Conference ("NNDC") is accepting nominations for the 2020 NNDC Recognition Award. The Awardee will receive a commemorative plaque and make a presentation at the 41st NNDC conference in College Park, MA between April 19 and 22, 2020. Please include the name and affiliation of the proposed nominee along with a brief (max. 200 words) description of why they should be recognized with this award to the current NNDC Chair, Mr. David Haytowitz via email: [email protected] by September 30, 2019.
 
NAM Issues Report on Vibrant and Healthy Kids
A new report , Vibrant and Healthy Kids: Aligning Science, Practice and Policy to Advance Health Equity from the National Academies of Medicine ("NAM") outlines strategies to move children at risk for negative outcomes toward positive health trajectories and reduce health disparities.
 
AAAS Diversity Webinar
The American Association for the Advancement of Science ("AAAS") recently hosted a   webinar on diversity in science, "You can't think outside the box if you're locked inside it," featuring presentations from Angela Byars-Winston, PhD, Mathias W. Nielson, PhD, Jon Freeman, PhD, and Charlene Le Fauve, PhD.
 
SNA Issues 2019 School Nutrition Trends
The majority of schools are exceeding USDA's standards for serving whole-grain foods, even after the department relaxed their requirements, according to a new survey released by the School Nutrition Association ("SNA"). For more details on the progress of school meals, read the 2019 School Nutrition Trends Report .
 
CBPP Releases Several Reports on SNAP Benefits
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities ("CBPP"), a non-profit research and advocacy group, has recently released a series of publications on how the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") benefits fall short of what many participants need to buy food and prepare a healthy diet. The resources include:
CSPI Launches Comprehensive Food Service Guidelines
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) published a new resource , A Roadmap for Comprehensive Food Service Guidelines t o help increase equitable access to healthy food and beverages in public facilities, institutions, and programs. The resource contains key considerations, best practices, and resources for adopting and implementing food and nutrition guidelines in diverse settings, including worksites, hospitals, parks, correctional and juvenile justice facilities, and child and senior nutrition programs.
 
Lawsuits Challenge Final Public Charge Rule
The Department of Homeland Security announced the final rule on public charge that diminishes the opportunities to gain U.S. citizenship for individuals who have accessed the SNAP, Medicaid, or housing subsidies. WIC is not included in the final rule. The final public charge rule should take effect on October 15. To prevent implementation of this rule, two California counties, 18 State Attorneys General and various advocate groups, including healthcare providers, have challenged this policy change in immigration rules. 


Meetings
Who's Leading the Leading Health Indicators? Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
September 19 at 12:00 p.m. ET [Webinar]
Register here .
 
Adapting to New Climate Realities: Doing More, Better, and New
International Food Policy Research Institute
September 19, 2019, 12:15 pm to 1:45 pm (EDT)
1201 Eye St. NW, 12th Floor
Register here .
 
Advancing Effective Obesity Communications
Roundtable on Obesity Solutions
September 16, 2019, 8:30am-4:00pm EDT
NASEM, 2101 Constitution Ave NW, Lecture Room
Washington, DC
Register here .
 
The Future of Food
International Food Information Council and Eating Well magazine
September 18, 2019
Meredith, 225 Liberty Street, New York City
Register here .
 
50th Anniversary of the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health
Tufts University School of Nutrition and Policy
October 3-4, 2019, 8:00 a.m. - 6:30pm
Behrakis Auditorium, 150 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA
October 30th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Register here .
 
"You can't think outside the box if you're locked inside it"
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Find archived recording here .
 
Lifestyle Matters: Key Strategies to Improve Health for those with Chronic Conditions
Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC)
Find archived recording here .


Funding Opportunities
DHHS
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
USDA
Department of Agriculture
Food and Nutrition Service

Chron's and Colitis Foundation
  • September 3, 2019 LOI submission deadlineยท         
  • September 13, 2019 Invitation to submit full proposal
  • October 14, 2019 Full proposal submission deadline 

The Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) Project

Learning Collaborative Partnership opportunity for state and local health agencies, closing October 1, 2019.

 
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • September 16, 2019 (3 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET) Optional applicant webinar. Registration is required through this link.
  • September 24, 2019 (3 p.m. ET) Deadline for receipt of brief proposals.
  • November 5, 2019 Applicants notified if they have been invited to submit a full proposal.
  • December 13, 2019 (3 p.m. ET) Deadline for receipt of full proposals.
International
England DEFRA Seeks Information on Food Systems
England's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) seeks "evidence and ideas that can be considered in the review of [England's] food system which will help create a new National Food Strategy." This strategy is intended to be "an overarching strategy for government, designed to ensure that [the] food system: delivers safe, healthy, affordable food, regardless of where people live or how much they earn; is robust in the face of future shocks; restores and enhances the natural environment for the next generation in [the] country; is built upon a resilient, sustainable and humane agriculture sector; is a thriving contributor to [the] urban and rural economies, delivering well paid jobs and supporting innovative producers and manufacturers across the country; delivers all this in an efficient and cost-effective way." Comments are due by October 25, 2019. To view the Online Survey, visit here .
 
New Report on Reducing Food Waste
The World Resources Institute, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, and in partnership with other leading research institutes released a new report , "Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Setting a Global Action Agenda." The report suggests strategies for businesses, government, civil society and others in the food system to tackle food loss and waste, both individually and collectively. The report calls for setting targets to halve food waste, following a sector-specific "to-do" list, and pursuing ten "scaling interventions."