Retirement muddies future of NSLP

The chairman of the House committee that oversees child nutrition programs is retiring from Congress next year, raising questions about prospects for reauthorizing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.

The law, which authorized the Agriculture Department to raise the nutrition standards for school meals and regulate what is sold in school vending machines, expires Sept. 30.

Minnesota Republican John Kline, who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, announced Thursday on his Facebook page that he wouldn't seek re-election in 2016. Both on his Facebook page and in a statement on the committee web site, he said he looked forward to passing legislation replacing the No Child Left Behind law, which forced schools to meet higher education standards, but he didn't directly mention the nutrition issue.

“Whether it's replacing No Child Left Behind, holding the Obama administration accountable for its harmful policies, or strengthening higher education, there is a lot of work to do over the next 16 months. I remain humbled by the opportunity to lead the committee, and I intend to finish strong and to continue delivering common sense reforms America's students, parents, workers, and employers deserve,” he said.

Kline has held hearings on the nutrition issue but has yet to schedule a markup for a new bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue in that chamber, is scheduled to mark up its bill Sept. 17.