The ASPHN Board of Directors met on May 13, 2022.
- Twenty General membership application was approved: Michelle Acolatse (NE); Sandi Anderson (CA); Cheryl Barrios-Smith (CA); Katy Baughman (IN); Erin Bertoldi (RI); Sherrie Blanchette (RI); Robin Carboni (CA); Paul Etchberry (CA); Kate Gerwick (SC); Coleman Hale (NC); Lydia Hamilton (IN); Tiffany Haselden (SC); Michael Lauder (RI); Marianne Lindgren (NC); Noelle Manley (NY); Marcia McCoy (MN); Courtney Ramsey-Coleman (NC); Kathryn Roy (RI); Annalisa Sherman (CA), and Angelica Vergara (NJ). Eight Associate (two Student) membership applications were approved: Yetunde Akingbemi (AL); Ana Altares (CO); Shalonda Coleman (MS); Jennifer Dellaport (CO); Jackie French (TN); Andile Mkhonta (LA); Victoria Reyes (NC); and Leika Suzumura (WA).
- The motion to approve the student nomination of Andile Mkhonta, to serve as a non-voting director on the Board, as the Student Representative, from August 1, 2022- July 31, 2023 passed unanimously.
- Signed-on to the organizational letter led by the Union of Concerned Scientists requesting report language in the FY23 Agriculture Appropriations bill that would require the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to prioritize funding the field of sustainable nutrition science (SNS) within the Agriculture Food and Research Initiative (AFRI).
Signed-on to the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs’(AMCHP) letter addressed to Chair DeLauro and Ranking Member Cole of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education & Related Agencies; urging the highest possible funding level in fiscal year 2023 for federal programs at HRSA, CDC, and NIH to improve maternal health and eliminate inequities in maternal health outcomes
Signed-on in support of the Maternal Health Funding in FY23 – DeGette-Gallagher Dear Colleague Letter asking Members of Congress to adopt the highest possible funding level in fiscal year 2023 for federal programs at HRSA, CDC, and NIH to improve maternal health and eliminate inequities in maternal health outcomes.
Signed-on to organizational letter supporting the Center for Science in the Public Interest’s (CSPI) petition filed with Consumer Reports and Dr. Jason Block of Harvard Medical School/Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, requesting a rulemaking to update the required nutrition information at chain restaurants to include added sugars for standard menu Items.
Signed-on to the Federal Nutrition Advisory Coalition’s letter addressed to President Biden supporting the convening of a 2022 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Hunger, and Health.
Signed-on to the PWFA Coalition’s Mother’s Day Card addressed to the Senate from supporting organizations asking that the Senate prioritize passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act for Mother’s Day; to ensuring dignity, respect, and equality for pregnant workers. Last May, the PWFA passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House.
Signed-on to the national organization sign-on Letter along with Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs (AMCHP) and over 25 other national organizations sent to House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee leadership supporting $100 million for SET-NET in FY23.
Signed-on to the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) letter addressed to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack; asking USDA to align the nutrition standards for school meals to be consistent with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines on added sugars, sodium, and whole grains, as well as addressing further challenges schools face without weakening nutrition standards, such as sufficient time-to-eat, technical assistance, and funding kitchen equipment updates and repairs.
Signed-on to the new Maternal Health Funding in FY23 – Kelly-Axne Dear Colleague Letter: Reaching out to Members of Congress asking them to sign the NEW Dear Colleague Letter led by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Rep. Axne (D-IA) urging funding in fiscal year 2023 for maternal health programs authorized by the recent passage of the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act and the Rural MOMS Act.
Signed-on to the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee letter mobilizing action to maintain and expand investments in infant feeding by urging Congress to direct $20M to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies appropriations bill (up from $9.75M in FY2022).
Signed-on to the National WIC Association’s letter addressed to members of Congress calling for a slightly higher budget authority ($6.3 billion) to allow for swifter transition to enhanced food packages once USDA advances the rule later this spring.