The ASPHN Board of Directors met in January 12, 2021.
1. Seven General membership applications were approved: Sabrina Chappell-Strickland (NC), Gretchen Hofing (NC), Sharon Joseph (GA), Satoko Chika Mita (NC), Rodasha Mumphery (GA), Courtney Puidk (DC), Lela Stapler (GA). One Associate (Student) membership application was approved: Jami Lee (MN).
2. A motion to approve the revised drawdown policy was approved unanimously.
3. A motion to approve the ASPHN budget for 2021 as presented passed unanimously.
4. A motion to approve up to $10,000 of unrestricted funds to assess the feasibility for ASPHN to host a virtual event such as a mini-symposium or call to action to re-ignite interest in making fruit and vegetable consumption a national priority passed unanimously.
5. Policy Committee actions on behalf of ASPHN since last board report:
Signed-on to:
- The Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs’ (AMCHP) letter addressed to the bipartisan leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate urging passage of the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act(H.R. 4995) and the Helping MOMS Act of 2020 (H.R. 4996) this year.
- The Transportation for America’s sign-on letter supporting priorities related to user safety, connectedness, and biking and walking infrastructure in the next long-term transportation bill.
- The National WIC Association’s letter addressed to President-Elect Biding requesting an extension of 60 days on the comment period for the Food and Nutrition Service’s (FNS) proposed rule entitled: “Restoration of Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Flexibilities” (85 FR 75241). The proposal would reinstitute the school nutrition changes on sodium, whole grains, and flavored milk (83 FR 63775, December 12, 2018).
Submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to Request for Comments, Docket No. FNS-2020-0038 Restoration of Milk, Whole Grains, and Sodium Flexibilities.