Check out the Extension Advocacy Toolkit!
Below is a list of upcoming opportunities to engage with or provide comment on federal rules, regulations, and grant management decisions that relate to northeast extension priorities. This is not an exhaustive list.
Check back soon for new opportunities.
White House “Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health” Listening Sessions – June 3-13, 2022
Information obtained through the White House
The White House “Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health” will be held this September. You can read the official press release here and check in on conference details here.
REGISTER FOR A LISTENING SESSION HERE.
Available sessions:
• South: June 1, 2022, 9am-11am MDT
• Midwest & Mountains: June 3, 2022, 11am-1pm MDT
• Northeast & Mid-Atlantic: June 7, 2022, 10am-12pm EDT
• West Coast & Pacific: June 9, 3pm-5pm PDT
• Spanish-only (all regions): June 13, 2022, 1pm-3pm EDT
The listening sessions will include breakout sessions based on the five pillars that define the scope of White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. They are meant to help guide our efforts to identify actions that can be taken across all sectors. The five pillars are:
1. IMPROVE FOOD ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY:
End hunger by making it easier for everyone — including urban, suburban, rural, and Tribal communities — to access and afford food. For example, expand eligibility for and increase participation in food assistance programs and improve transportation to places where food is available.
2. INTEGRATE NUTRITION AND HEALTH:
Prioritize the role of nutrition and food security in overall health, including disease prevention and management, and ensure our health care system addresses the nutrition-related needs of all people.
3. EMPOWER ALL CONSUMERS TO MAKE AND HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY CHOICES:
Foster environments that enable all people to easily make informed healthy choices, increase access to healthy food, encourage healthy workplace and school policies, and invest in public messaging and education campaigns that are culturally appropriate and resonate with specific communities.
4. SUPPORT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR ALL:
Make it easier for people to be more physically active–in part by ensuring everyone has access to safe places to get active–increase awareness of the benefits of physical activity, and conduct research on and measure physical activity.
5. ENHANCE NUTRITION AND FOOD SECURITY RESEARCH:
Improve nutrition metrics, data collection, and research to inform nutrition and food security policy, particularly on issues of equity, access, and disparities.
Proposed Scientific Questions to Inform the Development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030 – Due May 16, 2022
Information obtained through USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Overview
As the first step in the development process of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 (Dietary Guidelines), the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) are releasing proposed scientific questions for public comment. The public comment period will be open for 30 days starting April 15, 2022, through May 16, 2022 at 11:59 PM ET. HHS and USDA are committed to transparency and providing opportunities for public participation during this five-step process leading up to the release of the Dietary Guidelines in 2025.
Process to Develop the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030
Updating the Dietary Guidelines is a multi-year, multi-step process. First, HHS and USDA are requesting public comments on the proposed scientific questions. Next, there will be a call for nominations from the public and the appointment of a Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee will then conduct a review of the evidence related to the scientific questions, which culminates in the submission of a scientific report to the Secretaries of HHS and USDA.
The Committee will discuss its work in public meetings and supporting materials will be provided to the public through DietaryGuidelines.gov. HHS and USDA will consider the Committee’s report, along with federal agency and public comments, as they develop the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines. Once released, the new edition is implemented throughout the nutrition and health community both within and outside of the federal government.
About the Proposed Scientific Questions
The proposed questions are available on DietaryGuidelines.gov and focus on diet and health outcomes across the entire lifespan. This includes the relationship between diet and risk of overweight and obesity with a new emphasis on weight loss and weight maintenance. New questions also address ultra-processed foods and food-based strategies that can be used by individuals and families to support implementation of the Dietary Guidelines and help prevent or manage overweight and obesity.
All prioritized scientific questions will be reviewed with a health equity lens to ensure that resulting guidance in the Dietary Guidelines is inclusive of people with diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.
HHS and USDA proposed these scientific questions based on the following criteria:
- Relevance – Question is within scope of the Dietary Guidelines and its focus on food-based recommendations, not clinical guidelines for medical treatment.
- Importance – Question addresses an area of substantial public health concern, uncertainty, and/or knowledge gap.
- Potential Impact to Federal Programs – There is a high probability that the question will provide the scientific foundation for guidance that would inform federal food and nutrition policies and programs.
- Avoiding Duplication – Question is not addressed through existing or planned evidence-based federal guidance (other than the Dietary Guidelines).
Research availability will also be evaluated for the proposed questions to determine whether there is sufficient evidence available to conduct a new review or update an existing systematic review. Topics addressed by existing federal resources are not included on the list of proposed scientific questions, although many will be addressed in the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines.
How to Submit a Public Comment on the Questions
Anyone can comment via Regulations.gov (docket number OASH-2022-0005). A link to the specific Regulations.gov page will be posted on DietaryGuidelines.gov. HHS and USDA will consider all public comments posted to Regulations.gov in relation to the specified criteria above in prioritizing the scientific questions to be examined by the Committee to inform the development of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030.
Following this public comment period, HHS and USDA will seek nominations for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee from the public. The public can sign up to receive email updates on the Dietary Guidelines development process and other related news, including future opportunities for public involvement.
View past 2021 and 2020 opportunities on pages 2 and 3.