Number: 96-987
Title: Child Nutrition Legislation in the 104th Congress
Authors: Joseph I. Richardson, Education and Public Welfare Division 
Abstract: In 1995 and 1996, Congress acted four times to change federal child nutrition programs governed by the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Acts. In the first two instances-the 1995 budget reconciliation and welfare reform bills (the Balanced Budget Act and the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act)-congressional agreements containing major revisions to child nutrition laws were vetoed by the President. However, a separate bipartisan congressional initiative to allow schools more flexibility in meeting federal nutrition standards was enacted in the spring of 1996 (the Healthy Meals for Children Act: P.L. 104-149), and a third congressional agreement, combining welfare reform and budget reconciliation provisions and including substantial child nutrition program amendments, became law at the end of August 1996 (the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act; P.L. 104-194).
Pages: 34
Date: Updated January 10, 1997