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DELEGATION:  KEEP POTATOES IN NUTRITON PROGRAMS
Letter to Ag Secretary notes WIC staff supports including potatoes

Washington, D.C. – Idaho’s Congressional Delegation is asking the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to reverse course and stop a recommendation to remove fresh white potatoes from the USDA’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program.  Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick note 9.3 million program participants and 32 million school children receive food and meals under dietary guidelines directed by USDA, and plans to end the availability of potatoes under the WIC nutrition program rob participants of an affordable and nutritious vegetable.  The USDA says it is rewriting program guidelines in an effort to include more fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Unfortunately, fresh white potatoes have been the only vegetable excluded from the list of program eligible fruits and vegetables through this process, despite the crop’s nutritional value,” the Delegation wrote in a letter to Secretary Thomas Vilsack.  “We are disappointed with this exclusion, and ask that USDA amend its proposal to include this vegetable on this list.”

Idaho is the nation’s leader in producing fresh white potatoes, and the Delegation says not only will Idaho growers be hurt by the decision, but also low-income and nutritionally at-risk pregnant women.  “For example, one medium-size baked potato contains more potassium than a banana, and more vitamin C than a tomato, both of which are included on the list,” the Delegation wrote.  “We are concerned that USDA has taken an unnecessary step in removing this low-cost, nutritional vegetable from the program – a move that disadvantages not only participants, but all those involved in providing healthy produce to the WIC program.”

The Delegation noted USDA managers may want to consult their staff about the potatoes’ exclusion.  “As you may know, WIC program managers and staff across the country have expressed support for adding fresh white potatoes to the program, recognizing fresh potatoes as both a nutritional and economic option.”

The USDA is expected to issue a final rule on the WIC program next February.

House Legislative Business This Week

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2010
On Monday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:00 p.m.

Suspensions (10 Bills):
1) H. Res.___ - Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 5566 with an amendment - Prevention of Interstate Commerce in Animal Crush Videos Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Rep. Gallegly / Judiciary Committee)
2) H.Res. 716 - Recognizing Gail Abarbanel and the Rape Treatment Center (Sponsored by Rep. Kennedy / Judiciary Committee)
3) Senate Amendment to H.R. 5283 - Help HAITI Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Rep. Fortenberry / Judiciary Committee)
4) S. 1376 - International Adoption Simplification Act (Sponsored by Sen. Klobuchar / Judiciary Committee)
5) H.R. __ - Marine Sergeant Michael H. Ferschke, Jr. Memorial Act (Sponsored by Rep. Duncan / Judiciary Committee)
6) H.R. __ - To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to toll, during active-duty service abroad in the Armed Forces, the periods of time to file a petition and appear for an interview to remove the conditional basis for permanent resident status (Sponsored by Rep. Lofgren / Judiciary Committee)
7) H.R. 5264 - Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Conyers / Judiciary Committee)
8) H.Res. __ - Honoring the 30th Anniversary of the Bayh-Dole Act (Sponsored by Rep. Conyers / Judiciary Committee)
9) S. 3689 - Copyright Cleanup, Clarification, and Corrections Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Sen. Leahy / Judiciary Committee)
10) H.Res. __ - Recognizing and honoring the 50th anniversary of Ruby Bridges desegregating a previously all-white public elementary school (Sponsored by Rep. Lewis (GA) / Judiciary Committee)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2010 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business.

Suspensions (23 Bills):
1) H.Res. 1475 - Congratulates the town of Tarboro, North Carolina, on the occasion of its 250th anniversary (Sponsored by Rep. Butterfield / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
2) H.Res. 1428 - Recognizing Brooklyn Botanic Garden on its 100th anniversary (Sponsored by Rep. Clarke / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
3) H.R. 5758 - The "Sergeant Robert Barrett Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Frank / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
4) H.Res. 1529 - Commending Bob Sheppard (Sponsored by Rep. McCarthy (NY) - Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
5) H.R. 5655 - The "Jesse J. McCrary, Jr. Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Meek / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
6) H.R. 5702 - To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to reduce the waiting period for holding special elections to fill vacancies in the membership of the Council of the District of Columbia (Sponsored by Del. Norton / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
7) H.R. 6278 - Kingman and Heritage Islands Act of 2010 (Sponsored by Del. Norton / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
8) H.R. 5367 - D.C. Courts and Public Defender Service Act (Sponsored by Del. Norton / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
9) S. 3567 - The "Navy Corpsman Jeffrey L. Wiener Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Sen. Schumer / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
10) H.Res. 1494 - Congratulating the champion, finalists, and all other participants in the 83rd Annual Scripps National Spelling Bee (Sponsored by Rep. Sutton / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
11) H.R. 6237 - The “Tom Kongsgaard Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Thompson (CA) / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
12) H.R. 6387 - The "Sam Sacco Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Thompson / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
13) H.R. __ - To improve certain administrative operations of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (Sponsored by Rep. Brady (PA) / House Administration Committee)
14) H.Res. __ - Congratulating the engineers, scientists, psychologists, and staff of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for helping to successfully rescue 33 trapped Chilean miners from a collapsed mine near Copiapo, Chile (Sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson / Science and Technology Committee)
15) H.Res. 1677 - Condemning the Burmese regime's undemocratic upcoming elections on November 7, 2010 (Sponsored by Rep. Manzullo / Foreign Affairs Committee)
16) H.J.Res. 94 - Recognizing the 20th anniversary of the outbreak of the Gulf War and reaffirming the commitment of the United States towards Gulf War veterans (Sponsored by Rep. Michaud / Foreign Affairs Committee)
17) H.Con.Res. 259 - Recognizing the birth of Italian architect Andrea Palladio (Sponsored by Rep. Pascrell / Foreign Affairs Committee)
18) H.Con.Res. 327 - To recognize and support the efforts of the USA Bid Committee to bring the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup competition to the United States (Sponsored by Rep. Van Hollen / Foreign Affairs Committee)
19) H.Res. 1654 - Expressing support for "Undergraduate Research Week" (Sponsored by Rep. Holt / Education and Labor Committee)
20) H.Res. 1652 - Expressing support for National Principals Month (Sponsored by Rep. Davis (CA) / Education and Labor Committee)
21) H.Res. 1641 - Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Impact Aid (Sponsored by Rep. Hirono / Education and Labor Committee)
22) H.Res. 1655 - Expressing support for "National Farm to School Month" (Sponsored by Rep. Holt / Education and Labor Committee)
23) H.Res. 1648 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the children in foster care awaiting families (Sponsored by Rep. Oberstar / Ways and Means Committee)

Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1722 - Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Sarbanes / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)