May 12, 2023 Board Meeting

The ASPHN Board of Directors met on May 12, 2023.

1. Three General member applications were approved: Sophia Bopp (CA); Christine Kassas (GA); and Gabrielle Risley (KS).
2. Three Associate member applications were approved: Abubakar Isa (MD); Nelcie Voltaire Etienne (NC); and Angel Cunningham (WV).
3. Motion to approve the student nomination of Emilie Holloway, to serve as a non-voting director on the Board, as the Student Representative, from August 1, 2023 – July 31, 2024 passed unanimously.
4. Policy Committee actions on behalf of ASPHN since last board report:
   1. Signed on in support of the:
      1. Center for Science in the Public Interest’s (CSPI) letter addressed to members of Congress in support of FDA’s funding increase request of $106,774,000 forFDA/Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition’s (CFSAN). Total funding request to equal $509,542,000, a 17% increase from $402,768,000 in FY 2023, which includes a $12,000,000 increase to support nutrition work in alignment with the National Strategy.
      2. Federal Good Food Purchasing Coalition’s letter  supporting three FY24 appropriations provisions that would facilitate updating the Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities and beginning to phase in government-wide implementation in FY24.
      3. National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) letter addressed to House and Senate Appropriations Committee leadership requesting additional funding for the SPAN Program at CDC to ensure that all states and territories receive critical funding.
      4. School Meals During School Closures Act introduced by Reps Ilhan Omar, Adam Schiff, and Jahana Hayes to expand and secure student access to school meals. This bill would ensure that schools have the necessary federal flexibilities to continue serving meals to students during certain unanticipated school closures such as the recent school staff strikes in Los Angeles, natural disasters and extreme weather events, public health emergencies, or other such events.
      5. Federal Nutrition Advisory Coalition letter addressed to House and Senate Appropriations leaders regarding funding for the NIH’s Office of Nutrition Research (ONR).
      6. Reintroduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act for the 118th Congress led by Representatives Underwood and Adams in the House, Senator Booker in the Senate, and members of the Black Maternal Health Caucus.

Final April 2023 board meeting minutes