Support funding for the Healthy Schools Act!

A recap of the Healthy Schools Act here in the District of Columbia:

In December 2009, DC City Council representatives Mary Cheh and Vincent Gray co-introduced the Healthy Schools Act of 2009. The Bill contains many important Farm to School initiatives, as well as other initiatives designed to improve the health and well-being of District schoolchildren and to “green” District schools. The Healthy Schools Act Hearing took place on March 26, 2010. On May 4, 2010, The D.C. Council voted unanimously to pass the bill, with the goal of the legislation being in effect when school resumes in August 2010.

For more information about the Healthy Schools Act, see the DC Farm to School Network.

Recently, Earth Day Network and the Campaign for Healthy Kids have
launched a new campaign to support D.C. Councilmember Mary M. Cheh’s
proposal to combat childhood obesity via:

•The Healthy Schools Act, which will improve the nutrition, health,
and wellness of children;

• Healthy Food Access Initiative, which will provide incentives to
bring grocery stores to underserved areas in low-income communities
and create jobs;

• Healthy Corner Store Program, which will help small food stores
serve healthier foods;

• Faith-Based and Community-Based Anti-Obesity Programs; and

• Improve the Office of Aging’s Nutritional Programs, which serve the elderly.


The proposal would fund these programs with a nominal tax on
sugar-sweetened beverages. The tax would not only fund these programs
— but help encourage the consumption of healthier beverages. Please
join us in this effort to combat child obesity in D.C. More than half
of DC residents are classified as obese and obesity costs DC city
government at least $400 million annually. The Big Soda Lobby is
pouring millions into DC to defeat this innovative and necessary
proposal. Earth Day Network and its partners will be collecting
thousands of signatures over the next 10 days in addition to
organizational sign ons from community groups and local businesses.

Sign on to the petition!