WASHINGTON (AP) — A House bill that would allow some
schools to opt out of healthier meal standards drew a veto threat
Tuesday from the White House.
The GOP spending bill would allow
schools to waive the school lunch and breakfast standards championed by
first lady Michelle Obama for the next school year if they lost money on
meal programs over a six-month period. The House is expected to
consider the legislation as soon as Wednesday.
In a statement
threatening a veto, the White House said the bill would be "a major step
backwards for the health of American children by undermining the effort
to provide kids with more nutritious food."
The school meal rules
set by Congress and the Obama administration over the past several
years require more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in the lunch
line. Also, there are limits on sodium, sugar and fat.
Some school
nutrition directors have lobbied for a break, saying the rules have
proved to be costly and restrictive. The schools pushing for changes say
limits on sodium and requirements for more whole grains are
particularly challenging, while some school officials say kids are
throwing away fruits and vegetables.
Republicans have said the
standards are overreach. Rep. Robert Aderholt of Alabama, the Republican
author of the agriculture spending bill that includes the provision,
said the rules are too much too quick and schools need more time to
comply.
Mrs. Obama has lobbied Congress to keep the standards,
holding a White House event late last month with school nutrition
directors who said the guidelines are working in their schools.
The Senate did not include the opt-out language in its version of the spending bill.