The event received strong enthusiasm from attendees. One group of advocates from Tulare County met with Assembly-woman Connie Conway for nearly 45 minutes. "I was surprised and encouraged to hear Connie indicate strong support for [ENACT Day bills] AB 516, AB 839, and AB 581," said Susan Elizabeth, community coordinator of Tulare County's Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program. "She committed to urging her caucus to vote in favor! The Tulare folks really enjoyed their day in Sacramento."
To all those who attended: Your advocacy efforts went far beyond the day itself, and are making a difference! With your support, 3 of the 4 bills on ENACT Day's agenda are moving forward through the legislative process.
- AB 839 (Brownely): Putting Breakfast First, which would bring attention to the health, academic, and fiscal benefits of the School Breakfast Program, has successfully passed the Assembly with 51 "yes" votes. It is now headed to the Senate Education Committee. Click here to learn more.
- AB 581: (J. Perez): Increasing Access to Healthy and Nutritious Foods, which would leverage federal, state, and private funds to expand access to healthy food in underserved communities, has passed its first house, receiving unanimous support in every committee. It has now been assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Senate Health Committee. Click here to learn more.
- AB 516 (M. Perez): Safe Routes to School, which would increase the scope of "Safe Routes to School" construction to specifically consider disadvantaged communities, made it off the floor with bipartisan support. It is now waiting to be assigned to a policy committee in the Senate. Click here to learn more.
- AB 441 (Monning): Building Healthy Communities sought to include health criteria in state guidance on land use and transportation to encourage physical activity. AB 441 stalled in the Assembly appropriations committee and is now a two-year bill. Click here to learn more.
Learn more about California's food and activity legislation at Strategic Alliance's Policy Center.
