Hitting 'the hill': Snack Food Association members lobbied Congress about key issues during the annual Day in D.C. Spring Summit.

It was an exercise in democracy for some 40 Snack Food Association members when they went to Washington, D.C., May 17 and 18 for the SFA Day in D.C. Spring Summit. There, they met with members of the House and Senate, heard a fascinating presentation from a top Defense Department official, and were

SFA member company executives spoke directly with congressmen and senators, asking for their support on key issues, including nutritional restrictions and labor legislation. "This was one of our most successful Day in D.C. programs ever," said SFA President and CEO Jim McCarthy.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) opened the Day in D.C. Spring Summit with a luncheon address in which he expressed opposition to proposed restrictions in the Farm Bill, now being developed, that would create a "good food, bad food" policy limiting foods that could be purchased by Food Stamp recipients. That is a major issue of concern to the SFA, which is working with other allied groups to oppose such language in the Farm Bill, McCarthy said.

"I don't think the founding fathers felt that the federal government should get into what food we eat" Roberts told SFA members at the luncheon. Instead, he said consumers should use "moderation" in their diets and called for legislation requiring schools to include physical education programs in their curriculum. The SFA also supports such legislation, McCarthy noted.

"Obesity is a big problem," Robert said. "But it is not the proper role of the federal government to tell people what to eat"

Addressing the Issues

After Sen. Roberts' presentation, SFA members fanned out over Capitol Hill to meet with 33 members of Congress and/or key staff members from states with member company operations. These included Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Some of the key issues discussed included:

* Opposition to limiting choice for Food Stamp Program participants

* Opposition to redefining Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value

* Opposition to the Country of Origin Labeling provision for Processed Peanuts

* Opposition to union card check legislation, the Employee Free (Forced) Choice Act

* Support for the Fair Labor Standards Act--Motor Carrier Exemption (Overtime Rules for Drivers of Vehicles Under 10,001 lbs.)