Funding for Critical Nutrition and Health Programs Included in FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

03/17/2022 – The FY22 omnibus appropriations bill signed into law this week by President Biden includes substantial funds for critical nutrition and health programs. The outline below highlights the funding for the Academy's top policy and advocacy priorities:

White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health

• Funding in the amount of $2.5 million dollars was allocated to execute a White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, Health and Hunger.
• The Academy is working with the White House Administration and members of Congress to shape this initiative.

Nutrition Assistance:

• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infant and Children was funded $6 billion, with $90 million going to WIC peer breastfeeding counselor program. Additionally, the increase to WIC's cash value benefit was approved to remain in place until September 2022. Lastly, $26 billion was allocated to the Farmers Market Nutrition Program which provides incentives for WIC participants to utilize local farmer's markets.
• The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program received more than $140 billion to help low-income Americans put food on the table, which supports the increase to benefits based on the Thrifty Food Plan review. This also includes $998 million for nutrition education.
• The National School Lunch Program received $14 billion; the National School Breakfast Program received $5 billion. Of that, $30 million will help schools invest in kitchen equipment. The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children received $45 million.
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program received $81 million dollars to distribute food items directly to low-income Americans.
• The congregate meals program for seniors was level-funded at $515.3 million while the home-delivered meals program received a 5% increase to $291.3 million.

Health Promotion

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Physical Activity and Obesity received $58.42 million to fund state and local evidence-based policy, systems and environmental change programs, a $1.5 million increase over FY21.
• Highlighting the importance of reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health, the CDC's Racial and Ethnic Approached to community health received $65.95 million, a $2 million increase from FY21.
• The CDC also received $9.75 million for the Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program.
• Congress has extended several major Medicare telehealth flexibilities to stay in place until 151 days (five months) after the end of the public health emergency. View more information about the telehealth provisions in the bill.

Tribal Health

• Approximately $73 million was provided to the Indian Health Service to fund the IHS Loan Repayment Program and other programs that help recruit and retain health care providers, including RDNs.
• The Indian Health Service received $145 million to invest in Electronic Health Record systems, which is a more than 300% increase from FY21.

Although the FY22 appropriations omnibus was just signed by President Biden this week, the Academy is already advocating to have its key priorities included in the President's FY23 budget, which is set to be released the first week of April. Academy members are encouraged to join the affinity groups to learn more about the FY23 appropriations process and support the Academy's efforts. The full bill and the line items for each agency can be found on the House Committee on Appropriations' website.