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Child nutrition law tussle in D.C.

The chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee says he wants the child nutrition bill rewritten to give schools more flexibility in meeting school meal standards.

Ranking chairwoman, Debbie Stabenow, says she does not want to lower the standards of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and is working with Chairman Pat Roberts on a reauthorization bill.

The School Nutrition Association wants the whole-grains standard that took effect last year rolled back and it wants to end the requirement that schools provide a minimum of a half cup of fruits and vegetables a day. The group argues the standards have driven kids away from the school meals program and increased the costs for schools.

But the American Heart Association says the standards have increased fruit and vegetable consumption among kids.  More than 300 Heart Association volunteers are on Capitol Hill today in support of keeping the child nutrition law in place as is.