04/18/07

Sen. Kennedy to Receive American Dietetic Association’s 2007 Public Policy Leadership Award

FOR RELEASE APRIL 18, 2007

Media contacts:  Jennifer Starkey, Tom Ryan
800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4894
media@eatright.org

CHICAGO – Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D.-Mass.) will receive the American Dietetic Association’s 2007 Public Policy Leadership Award April 25 in recognition of Kennedy’s work in the area of food and nutrition-related public policy. Kennedy will receive the award in Washington, D.C., at a breakfast session of ADA’s Public Policy Workshop in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G-50.

ADA is honoring Kennedy for his work to include medical nutrition therapy as a “core medical service” under the newly reauthorized Ryan White CARE Act and to expand nutrition services provided by registered dietitians to people covered by the program. Last December, Congress passed and President Bush signed a three-year reauthorization of the Ryan White Act, the largest federal health-care program specifically for people with HIV and AIDS.

“ADA’s Public Policy Leadership Award is presented annually to members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding service and support for food, nutrition and health policy,” said registered dietitian Ane Marie Kis, chairman of ADA’s American Dietetic Association Political Action Committee’s board of directors.

“Senator Kennedy has demonstrated leadership in areas related to nutrition such as Medicare reform and national health insurance. In his past role as a senior Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Kennedy strongly supported making MNT a core medical service and he continues to seek amendments that would ensure full funding of the Ryan White CARE Act,” Kis said.
 
Kennedy was nominated for ADA’s Public Policy Leadership Award by the members of the Massachusetts Dietetic Association, an affiliate of ADA, “after being welcomed repeated by the Kennedy office during their visits over the years,” Kis said.

ADA’s Public Policy Workshop sessions also will be held April 23 and 24 at the Renaissance Washington, D.C., Hotel, 999 Ninth Street N.W. The Public Policy Workshop annually gives ADA members information and tools to advocate effectively for policies that improve people’s health and well-being through nutrition. More than 400 ADA members are scheduled to attend.
 
With more than 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. To locate a registered dietitian in your area, visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org.

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