Joannie Miller, director of Child Nutrition Programs for Bogalusa City Schools, will join approximately 1,000 school nutrition professionals from across the nation this week at the School Nutrition Association’s 42nd annual Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C.

During the conference, which runs March 1-5, Miller will join colleagues in discussing the impact of new nutrition standards for school meals and proposed regulations for foods sold in school vending machines, a la carte lines and snack bars. “Charge to the Hill,” an initiative of the Legislative Action Conference, will allow attendees to meet with their members of Congress to discuss these topics and urge their support for school meal programs, which serve 30 million students each school day.

Miller serves as the Public Policy and Legislative Chair for the School Nutrition Association of Louisiana, and accompanying her will be a team of six to meet with Louisiana’s two senators and six congressmen. Team members are Anthony Chivleatto, Archdiocese of New Orleans; Nadine Mann, East Baton Rouge School District; Travis Menard, MMI Culinary Services; Bryan Murray, MCS Software; and Richard Young, Young Equipment Solutions will be traveling to DC with Mrs. Miller.

LAC comes at a critical time, as Bogalusa City School cafeterias continue to implement new nutritional standards for school meals, which require more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and less sodium and calories on student lunch trays.

“As Congress prepares for the 2015 Child Nutrition Reauthorization, it is critical for our leaders to hear directly from the experts in school nutrition on the importance of school meal programs to the health, well-being and academic success of America’s students,” said School Nutrition Association President Leah Schmidt, SNS.

“I’m looking forward to telling our Louisiana Congressman about the healthy changes in our cafeterias, and how we need their support as we manage the cost of meeting new regulations” Miller said.

About School Nutrition Association:

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is a national, non-profit professional organization representing 55,000 school nutrition professionals across the country. Founded in 1946, SNA and its members are dedicated to making healthy school meals and nutrition education available to all students. To find out more about SNA’s Legislative Action Conference, visit www.schoolnutrition.org/LAC.