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Pennsylvania Legislators Seek Funds Dedicated to Paths for Walking and Biking



According to a news article from The Reporter, health advocacy groups are working with state policy makers in Pennsylvania to develop legislation that would create a specific fund to support the construction of walking and bike trails. Groups like the Mission: Readiness organization---an organization of retired military leaders---are concerned that childhood obesity has become an issue of national security and have called on state lawmakers to develop a comprehensive transportation plan that would include active modes of transportation. The news story reports that legislators plan on proposing a whole sales tax on fuel sold to gas stations to support the development of trails. They are hoping that this tax would help raise between $2.5 billion and $2.8 billion a year for new ...

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Georgia Tackles Healthy Food Access



Georgia is no stranger to the connection between hunger and obesity. Many low-income residents live in areas that have no grocery store close by but boast a variety of fast food joints, and rates of childhood obesity in those areas are high. Following the lead of many states and cities nationwide, Georgia has created the Georgia Supermarket Access Task Force, led by The Food Trust and Voices for Georgia’s Children. The task force has been meeting with key stakeholders, such as grocers and those in public health and agriculture, to talk about ways to get stores with fresh, healthy produce back into these areas. Check out the task force's work here! One great success story in the area is the Veggie Truck Farmers' Market, a weekly produce truck that accepts nutrition assistance and ...

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20 Minutes of Guaranteed Recess for Children Approved by New Jersey Senate



According to a news report, The Association for Childhood Education International estimates that 40% of US schools have reduced or eliminated recess and this number may be even higher among high-minority, underserved populations. Although, recess is a vital component of a child's development and physical activity time, students are not always provided with recess on a daily basis. Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer) of New Jersey recently sponsored a bill that would guarantee children at least 20 minutes a day of recess time. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, children should be getting at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity. In this App.com op-ed, three individuals discuss their support for ...

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Healthier Food and Drink on State Property in California



When it comes to food and drinks sold on city property, law makers in the state of California want to ensure that the healthy choice is also the easy choice. Introduced by assembly member Mitchell, A.B. 459 would require that food and beverages meet accepted nutritional guidelines if sold in a state-owned or state-leased building, or in a vending machine on state property. Check out the bill's status ...

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City Vending Machines Could get Healthier



The City of San Antonio is in the process of developing a new snack vending contract and have incorporated the Healthy Vending Guidelines into the contract. In 2002, the Health Collaborative developed and launched the “Fit City Healthy Vending Guidelines” which guided San Antonio’s healthy vending efforts for nearly a decade. In 2011 the Health Collaborative and the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District came together to update and strengthen the guidelines in response to increasing obesity and diabetes rates throughout the community. They engaged a coalition of community and public health experts, dietitians, and food distributors to design the new “San Antonio Healthy Vending Guidelines”. The new guidelines include a set of specific nutrition criteria; as well as ...

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Seattle Vending Machines Get Healthier



The city of Seattle is helping to make the healthy choice the easy choice for residents. The Seattle City Council on March 4th 2013 unanimously adopted a bill requiring all vending machines operated on city property to stock at least 50 percent “healthier” and “healthiest” food and beverage selections as defined by Public Health Seattle & King County. Seattle’s Department of Parks and Recreation has led the way by successfully implementing the King County Healthy Vending Guidelines of “Healthier” and “Healthiest” choices in all vending machines in city park facilities in ...

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Healthy Kids Out of School



Move to Resources? Healthy Kids Out of School-Home We’re Working to Keep Kids ...

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Loans for Grocery Stores or Healthy Corner Stores in Texas



On February 5, 2013, State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D- Laredo) introduced S.B. 403 that would establish a revolving loan fund to support low-income areas in need of grocery stores or healthy corner stores. This bill was introduced in response to the state-wide concern over “food deserts”, places where access to fresh fruits and vegetables is not easily available. Many minority communities, including Hispanic communities, find themselves living in these “food deserts”, without access to proper nutrition for their family. Check out the status of this bill ...

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Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act



Introduced in 2011 as part of the Farm Bill, this act makes changes across a wide spectrum of food and farm policies to: promote small, beginning and sustainable farmers; expand local and institutional markets for growers; increase access to local and healthier food options, particularly for low-income populations; remove or reduce barriers to the purchase of locally grown and produced food by federal nutrition programs; and more. Some aspects of the bill have been incorporated in the House and/or Senate versions of the pending farm bill. Learn more about the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs ...

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