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DEPARTMENTAL
REGULATION |
NUMBER: 1042-070 |
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SUBJECT: National
Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and
Fetal Nutrition |
DATE: January 14, 2008 |
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OPI: Food and
Nutrition Service (FNS) |
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1. PURPOSE
Section 17 of the
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended 42 U.S.C. 1786, provides for a National
Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and Fetal Nutrition and authorizes the
Secretary of Agriculture to appoint members thereto. The Council studies the
operation of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC) and related programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food
Program (CSFP).
2. SPECIAL
INSTRUCTION/CANCELLATION
a. This Departmental regulation
No. 1042-70 serves as the Council's Charter and supersedes Departmental
Regulation No. 1042-70, dated February 7, 2005.
This regulation will expire 2 years from the date of filing.
3. OFFICERS AND MEMBERSHIP
a. The Council is composed of 24 members of
which 21 are authorized by the above referenced Act; 2 additional members are
authorized by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, P.L. 100-690; and 1 additional
member is authorized by P.L. 101-147. The United States Office of Government
Ethics on July 19, 2004, issued guidance which designated three positions on
the Council as Special Government Employees (SGEs). This membership includes:
(1) State WIC director
(2) State CSFP director
(3) State WIC fiscal officer
(or the equivalent thereof)
(4) State health officer (or
the equivalent thereof)
(5) Local WIC director in an
urban area
(6) Local WIC director in a
rural area
(7) Local CSFP director
(8) State public health
nutrition director (or the equivalent thereof)
(9) Representative of an
organization serving migrants
(10) Official from a State
agency serving predominately American Indians
(11) WIC or CSFP parent
participants (for a total of 3 participants)
(12) Pediatrician
(13) Obstetrician
(14) Representative of a
non-profit public interest organization that has experience with and knowledge
of the WIC Program
(15) Person involved at the
retail sales level of food in the WIC Program
(16) Officials from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) (for a total of 2 officials)
(17) Officials from the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) (for a total of 2 officials)
(18) Expert in drug abuse
education and prevention (SGEs)
(19) Expert in alcohol abuse
education and prevention (SGEs)
(20) Expert in breastfeeding
promotion (SGEs)
b. The Welfare Reform
legislation, enacted in August 1996, now requires the Council to elect its
Chair and Vice-Chair. A staff member
serves as the Executive Secretary of the Council. The Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972
provides that each agency must appoint a Designated Federal Official to oversee
the Council procedures.
c. Seventeen (17) members of the
Council appointed from outside USDA and DHHS are appointed for 3-year terms.
However, State and local officials may serve only during their official
tenure. Parent participants are
appointed for 2-year terms. Members
appointed from USDA and DHHS serve at the pleasure of their respective
Secretaries.
d. A vacancy on the Council does
not affect its powers. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice- Chairperson
or one of the USDA designated officials will act in her/his stead.
e. To assure a balance of
differing views, the Council members are drawn from government, industry and
organizations with a common interest in the management of the Supplemental
Nutrition Programs. Equal opportunity
practices, in line with USDA policies, will be followed in all appointments to
the Council. To ensure that the
recommendations of the Council have taken into account the needs of the diverse
groups served by the Department, membership shall include, to the extent
practicable, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities,
women, and persons with disabilities.
4. DUTIES
The Council studies the operation of the WIC Program and related
programs such as the CSFP and makes recommendations to the programs for how
they may be improved as deemed appropriate.
5. ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING
COSTS
a. Members of the Council serve
without compensation but receive reimbursement for necessary travel and
subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of the duties of the
Council. In addition, parent participant
members are compensated for child care expenses and wages lost during scheduled
Council meetings.
b. Annual operating costs are
estimated at $50,000 with 1.0 staff years.
6. NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF
MEETINGS
The Council meets at least
once each year at the call of the Chairperson.
All meetings will be open to the public.
7. SUPPORT
FNS provides the Council with such technical and other assistance,
including secretarial and clerical assistance, as may be required.
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