During negotiations over a long-term spending bill, “(c)hild nutrition standards backed by First Lady Michelle Obama were in play,” says Politico. Leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees aim to unveil the legislation by Monday night “and then push for quick floor action before the current funding runs out Thursday night,” said Politico. The package would fund most government operations through the Sept 30 end of this fiscal year. The story says the package is likely to freeze domestic spending and putting additional money into projects overseas.
Earlier this year, House Republicans favored a one-year waiver for some schools from requirements to improve the nutritional content of the meals they serve. Backers said the meals, requiring more fruit, vegetables and whole grains and less salt, fat and sugar, are unpopular with students and costly for school districts.
The Hill newspaper said watchdog groups were watching for steps such as “an attack on President Obama’s environmental regulations.” Environmental groups said they were lobbying against provisions to undermine the so-called Waters of the United States rule to define the upstream reach of the Clean Water Act.