By Crystal D. Swann
July 12, 2004

The Children, Health and Human Services Standing Committee, convened by Chair Richmond Mayor Irma Anderson met June 26 to discuss the obesity epidemic and childhood nutrition and consider policy resolutions.

As an example of good corporate citizenship, Shelley Rosen, Global Senior Director for the McDonald's Corporation, shared information with the Mayors about McDonald's Balanced Lifestyle Initiative. The initiative is a comprehensive balanced lifestyles platform to help address obesity in America and improve the nation's overall physical well being. McDonald's multi-year plan, focusing on children and adults, promotes the importance of balance and includes significant efforts in the areas of food choices, physical activity and education.

The goal of McDonald's multi-disciplinary plan is to educate, assist, and engage consumers in ways that change individual behavior, resulting in better food/energy balance in their lives. Food/energy balance is the simple equation of calories in/calories out. In the U.S., McDonald's will work with the nation's foremost health, nutrition, and education experts to develop and implement a broad-based consumer education campaign to help Americans achieve a healthier, balanced lifestyle.

During the business session of the committee meeting, discussions ensued around various resolutions. While resolutions were approved, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman joined the meeting to discuss his resolution in support of a national reunion registry for children separated by the foster child system. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez joined the discussion to express strong support for his Antifreeze safety measure that calls for a bittering agent to be added to antifreeze to prevent the ingestion by children and animals. Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle presented strong arguments for the reimportation of prescription medicines from Canada.

All resolutions passed and a brief summary of each is listed below:

Reimportation of Prescription Medicines from Canada calls upon the federal government to enact legislation that would allow U.S. citizens legal access to safe, affordable prescription medications from Canada, and to take other fundamental steps to bring about the reasonable pricing of prescription drugs in the U.S.

In Support of Research to Investigate Causes for Cancer Disparities Among Racial and Ethnic Populations calls for research to investigate the reasons that certain cancer(s) heavily affects a particular racial or ethnic population.

In Support of Adequately Supplying the Strategic National Stockpile with Anthrax Vaccine calls on all its members to take all necessary steps to protect the country's cities over the next five years while the next generation vaccines are being developed and approved by the FDA.

Open Access to Mental Health Treatment and Services calls on all concerned parties to increase minority and under represented communities' participation in clinical trials.

National Hunger Awareness Day calls on communities across the nation to observe the principles and recommendations of AA National Hunger Awareness Day.

Supporting Resources to Fight Aids in the United States and Around the World commends the Administration for its commitment to combat HIV/AIDS abroad and urges the allocation of additional resources to stem the spread of this global pandemic and calls increase funding for critical domestic HIV/AIDS programs.

Antifreeze Safety Measure urges the Administration to advance this legislation this year to help avoid further harm to children and animals.

Supporting an American Center for Cures urges the establishment of the American Center for Cures, adequately funded, and the creation of a cabinet level position supporting and guiding its efforts.

Metropolitan Medical Response calls on Congress to authorize and fully fund the MMRS program to ensure that our nation's first responders have the resources they need to efficiently and effectively respond to disasters in their local communities.

National Reunion Registry for Siblings Separated in the Foster Care System encourages Congress to pass legislation creating a national, voluntary, mutual reunion registry for siblings separated in the foster care system as well as for adopted adults and birth parents.

Supporting Efforts in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity and Overweight encourages the federal, state and local governments to allocate funding and resources to the prevention and treatment of obesity and overweight.

Earned Income Tax Credit Pre-Certification urges Congress and the IRS to simplify EITC so that all those who are eligible can and will apply for their justly deserved tax credit.

The Get Outdoors Act strongly encourages the U.S. Congress to pass the Get Outdoors Act to address obesity related problems and provide physical and recreational opportunities in urban, suburban, and rural areas.