Sen Patrick Leahy D-VT and Sen. Richard Lugar R-IN

Sen Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) have introduced legislation to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to more effectively restrict the sale of soft drinks and other foods of minimal nutritional value in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Current federal rules prohibit sale of such items in cafeterias during lunch periods. The new bill would regulate sales of these items throughout school grounds until the end of lunch. Sens. Leahy and Lugar also introduced a separate package of child nutrition programs aimed at educating children about the benefits of eating healthful foods and to ensure that schools have access to more healthful items. Both bills are targeted for inclusion in child nutrition program re-authorization.