The thought of a soda tax is nothing new in Vermont. In February 2013, H.B. 234, a bill that would place a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, was re-introduced to the Vermont legislature. Half of the revenue from the proposed tax will fund the Vermont Healthy Weight Initiative Fund, and the second half will fund the State Health Care Resources Fund. The Alliance for a Healthier Vermont was a big supporter of the effort, circulating fact sheets and other resources to the community. On March 22, the Vermont soda tax was narrowly defeated in the state's house ways and means committee. The panel voted 6-5 against a 1-cent per ounce tax on sugar-sweetened ...
South Carolina wants to take the lead among states in the battle against obesity by allowing only healthy foods to be purchased with SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps. Gov. Nikki Haley on Thursday, February 21 2013 joined leaders of three state agencies to announce plans to seek a waiver from the federal government to change the food stamp program. South Carolina has the eighth highest rate of obesity among states. Various public stake holders and political leaders are meeting to discuss the best way to ensure SNAP benefits are not used to purchase junk like chips and soda. The waiver request will grow out of what state leaders hear in those meetings. A public poll showed that more people support SNAP limits in South Carolina than are against them. No state has been grained ...
Parent organization Real Food for Kids (RFFK) aims to improve the nutritional quality of food served at the public schools in Fairfax County, Va. These parents want all students to get healthy, fresh food that will fuel their bodies for physical and educational performance. As stated on their website: “We know, just as you do, that when a child is well-fed with nutritious, real food, he/she is healthier, better behaved and better able to succeed in and out of the classroom.” By doing research and educating themselves, they discovered the volume and breadth of processed foods and foods with artificial dyes and additives being served at their schools, even though these foods were allowed by USDA nutrition guidelines for school lunches. The parent group advocated for a new ...
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programs across the nation are providing children the opportunity to participate in physical activity by walking to school, while also reducing vehicular emissions, and relieving cities of traffic congestion. The SRTS program was originally introduced as a Federal-Aid program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005. With the passage of MAP-21, as of October 2012, federal funds specifically appropriated towards the SRTS program were no longer available to states. Still, states can still develop SRTS programs and seek support from the MAP-21's new transportation alternatives ...
The Livable Communities Act of 2011 (S. 1621, H.R. 3325) is a federal bill, authored by Senator Robert "Bob" Menendez of New Jersey, that would empower communities to develop livable and sustainable projects and provide grants to districts who plan to implement projects as part of comprehensive regional plans. The bill would give up to 75% of loans to eligible borrowers, for infrastructure development projects, used to support transit-oriented development. The first three sections of this bill include the table of contents, findings, and the purposes of the bill. Section four provides definitions for terms like comprehensive regional plan, healthy housing, livable community, and location efficient. Sections five through ten provide details on each component of the bill such as: The ...
The Walkable Community Program, an initiative created by the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), exists to inform, unite, and support local residents and organizations in improving the walkability of their communities. Anyone interested in promoting walking or biking activities in their community can contact the MPO to get assistance in starting a walking program in their community. Every third Wednesday of the month the MPO's Pedestrian Mobility Advisory Committee (PMAC) meets to develop plans for a safe and accessible network of sidewalks and pedestrian amenities throughout the community. Citizens wishing to participate on this committee are encouraged to attend meetings. Resources The Walkable Community Program Home Page Information about ...
States, cities, and towns can help create healthier communities by implementing community wide Complete Street policies which serve to reduce traffic congestion and design communities with all road users in mind--including bicyclists and pedestrians of all ages and abilities. According to a report entitled Complete Streets Policy Analysis of 2011, prepared by Smart Growth America, there were 350 Complete Street policies throughout the country as of January 1, 2012. At the state level there were roughly 30 policies that called for Complete Streets. Learn more about the fundamentals of Complete Streets, changing policy, and implementation of Complete Streets, by visiting the resources below. Resources Complete Streets: A to Z A list of Complete Street policies that exist across the ...
Built environment conditions can greatly impact a community's health, and policymakers like Senator Bill Monning (D-California), are starting to take note of this. In September 2012, California enacted AB 441, a bill that requires the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to include plans for projects that would help create health equity. The bill requires the CTC to attach policies, practices, or projects, recommended by regional Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), to ensure health equity. Resources Read the text to AB 441. This press release from Sen. Monning's office announces the passage of A.B. 441, in California, which seeks to increase health equity, by requiring transportation plans to document how the health residents will be affected by the implementation of ...
In 2009, the Texas Safe Passing bill was filed with the Senate by Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) and John Carona (R-Dallas) but later vetoed by Gov. Perry. This law would require more than three feet of passing distance (six feet for commercial vehicles) when a motorist passes a vulnerable road user---which includes, pedestrians, a physically disabled person, highway construction workers, people on horseback, bicyclists, or someone operating a moped. This Texas Safe Passing bill included penalties for "right hook" turns (turning dangerously in front of a vulnerable road user), and failing to yield when making a left turn at an intersection. According to the text of SB 488, if this bill would have been enacted, violation of this law would be punishable as a misdemeanor, and if the violation ...
