President-elect Donald Trump names Brooke Rollins as USDA Secretary pick

President-elect Donald Trump has announced his pick to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) during his second term. And at the state level this week, Tennessee once again trying to become the next state to offer universal free school meals.

Here's the latest in school nutrition legislation.

Brooke Rollins tapped by Trump to serve as USDA Secretary

President-elect Donald Trump has selected Brooke Rollins to serve as USDA Secretary ahead of his upcoming term. 

Rollins graduated from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural development. She later received her law degree from the University of Texas. During Trump’s first term as president, she served as director of the Domestic Policy Council and as assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives.

She currently serves as CEO of right-wing think tank America First Policy Institute, which was founded shortly after Trump’s first term in office. 

Like Trump's other Cabinet picks, Rollins will have to be confirmed by the Senate. If confirmed, she will oversee all the child nutrition programs under the USDA, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and others. Little is known about Rollins’ current views on child nutrition policy, but she will be stepping into the role as the USDA begins to implement the changes included in its recently updated School Nutrition Standards, which dictate the nutrition requirements in school meals served under the National School Lunch Program and more. 

The new standards will introduce added sugar limits for the first time as well as new limits on the amount of non-domestic grown and produced foods school nutrition operators can purchase for their programs. The amount of sodium in school meals will also be restricted further. 

Tennessee once again introduced a universal free school meals bill

Tennessee lawmakers are trying once again to bring universal free school meals to the state. HB0012, which was filed for introduction in the state House, would provide free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of their family’s income level. 

If passed, the state would join several others in offering universal free school meals, including California, Maine and Minnesota. States that have enacted universal free school meals have seen increased school meal participation numbers and some school nutrition operators have also noticed a more positive school culture as a result of providing free meals to all. 

This is the latest attempt to establish a universal free school meals program in the state. Last year, companion bills SB0208 and HB0255 which would have also provided universal free school meals were introduced last year but failed to pass.