02/22/05

American Dietetic Association’s Annual Public Policy Workshop

For Release

February 22, 2005

Media contacts: Lori Ferme, Tom Ryan
800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4894
Ronald Smith
800/877-0877
media@eatright.org

Media Advisory

WHAT: American Dietetic Association’s Annual Public Policy Workshop
WHEN: March 1-3, 2005
WHERE: Capital Hilton, 1001 16th St., N.W., Washington, D.C.
WHO: More than 300 dietetics professionals from all parts of the country will receive updates on legislative and policy aspects of leading national issues in food and nutrition from members of Congress, representatives of federal agencies, fellow ADA members and other experts.
WHY: ADA’s Public Policy Workshop gives dietetics professionals information and tools to advocate effectively for policies that improve people’s health and well-being through nutrition.

Session topics include the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans; development of school wellness policies as required by the 2004 Child Nutrition Act; and ADA’s 2005 federal legislative priorities: reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act, which funds unmet health-care needs and support services for people with HIV/AIDS; reauthorization of the Older Americans Act; and expanding Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy.

Scheduled speakers include (all times Eastern; sessions are in President’s Ballroom unless noted):

Tuesday, March 1

  • 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. session
    • 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Rear Adm. Cristina Beato, assistant secretary for public health and science, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    • Ryan White CARE Act: Connie Garner, director of disability and special needs policy, office of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)
  • 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. session
    • Older Americans Act: Josefina Carbonell, assistant HHS secretary for aging (Administration on Aging)
    • Food labeling issues: Barbara Schneeman, director of the Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements in the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
  • 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. session
    • “Moving Public Health into Public Education: Where the Two Worlds Combine”: Bill Potts-Datema, director of the Partnerships for Children’s Health program at the Harvard School of Public Health
    • Role of registered dietitians in development of new school wellness policies: Charlene Russell Tucker, chief of the Connecticut Bureau of Health and Nutrition Services and Child/Family/School Partnership

Wednesday, March 2

  • 8:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. session (Senate/Congressional Room)
    • U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), recipient of ADA’s 2005 Public Policy Leadership Award
    • Agenda for the 109th Congress: U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)
  • 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. lunch session (Senate/Congressional Room)
    • The work of the National Dairy Council in children’s nutrition: Robert Murray, associate professor of pediatrics, Ohio State University School of Medicine

Thursday, March 3

  • 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. breakfast session (Room G50, Dirksen Senate Office Building)
    • Health agenda for the 109th Congress: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.)
    • ADA members meet throughout the day with senators and congressmen

Speakers and times are subject to change. For more information and a complete agenda, e-mail media@eatright.org or call ADA at 800/877-1600, ext. 4802 or 4894 (Chicago headquarters), or 800/877-0877 (Washington, D.C., office).

With nearly 65,000 members, ADA is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The American Dietetic Association serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Visit ADA at http://www.eatright.org/.

###