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Public Policy

White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition & Health

Keep up to date with monthly updates  and learn about ongoing successes happening across the country as a result of the Conference, which was spearheaded by our own Rep. Jim McGovern.

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Stay Informed

  • The MNT Act is being reintroduced this legislative session since it didn’t pass in the last session. MAND continues to  pay a lobbyist to advocate for our causes, Bulfinch Strategies. 

  • MAND bills in current legislative session:

    • An Act Relative to Telehealth Parity for Nutrition Counseling

      • H.1288/S.716 - Sen. Julian Cyr (D - Cape and Islands), Rep. Edward Philips (D - 8th Norfolk)

      • Referred favorably by Joint Committee on Financial Services after 4/29/25 hearing, sent to Health Care Financing.

    • An Act Relative to Modernizing Licensure for Dietitians and Nutritionists

      • H.453/S.253 - Sen. Jason Lewis (D - 5th Middlesex), Rep. Edward Philips (D - 8th Norfolk)

      • Referred to Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure (error), then sent to Public Health (licensure for dietitians now by Dept of Public Health). Hearing held 6/11/25.

  • On a national level: Link to MAHA report & AND telehealth and licensure state guide

  • USDA is undergoing reorganization starting in October. 

  • The closing of Beltsville Research Center  will impact greatly on food and nutrition, food safety and hunger prevention research.  The decentralization of Food and Nutrition Services will affect the effectiveness of the USDA guidance on public health nutrition programs such as SNAP, WIC and school meals.

Public Policy Update from Washington D.C.

On March 8, 2025, House Republicans released text of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded through the end of the Fiscal Year, September 30, 2025.

 

The senate voted to pass the CR on March 14, 2025 to prevent a government shutdown.

 

Included in the bill:

  • Extension of certain telehealth flexibilities

  • Continuance for entitlements and mandatory payments provided in the FY2024 Appropriations Acts and under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008

  • Provides nearly $7.6 million for the WIC Program, $516 million for the Commodity Assistance Program (inclusive of $425 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program)

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What does this mean for Registered Dietitians? 

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For questions regarding this update,

email Judy Dowd, Public Policy Chair

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