Fueling Change: Pisanick Partners Advocates for School Nutrition at the 2025 Legislative Action Conference

Earlier in March, members of our Pisanick Partners team had the incredible opportunity to attend the School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) Legislative Action Conference (LAC) in Washington, D.C. They joined over 800 school nutrition professionals from across the country to advocate for the future of school nutrition programs. This inspiring experience reinforced the importance of advocating for school nutrition programs and ensuring that our voices are heard at the federal level.

Tina Hastings (Left) and Alana Williams (Right)

The Legislative Action Conference (LAC) is a key event where school nutrition professionals from across the country gather to discuss policies, share experiences, and meet with members of Congress. The goal was to advocate for policies that support healthy, accessible meals for students. This year, we focused heavily on issues that impact the daily operations of school cafeterias, such as funding for meal programs, flexibility in meal pattern requirements, and supply chain challenges. 

Key Topics and Takeaways

One of the biggest takeaways was participating in meetings with congressional staff, sharing stories about the positive impact of school meal programs on student success. This year the House Ways and Means Committee proposed some concerning changes to school meal programs that could limit student access to school meals and administrative costs. The School Nutrition Association (SNA) 2025 Position Paper, urges Congress to protect CEP, expand access to healthy school meals for all students, and address unpaid meal debt. The paper also calls for increased federal reimbursements to help schools cover costs and meet upcoming nutrition standards.

During these meetings we emphasized the challenges schools are facing, including rising food costs, labor shortages, and the need for more flexibility in meal planning to accommodate these realities.

Alana speaking to Representative Joyce Beatty's legislative director Katie Teleky.

Tina speaking to Representative Robert Latta’s legislative coordinator Stanley Stock & Daniel Ed Shaffer.

Connecting with Fellow Professionals

Beyond advocacy, the conference provided a valuable opportunity to connect with other school nutrition professionals. Hearing stories from districts across the country allowed us to exchange ideas and learn about creative strategies being used to overcome common challenges.

One district highlighted their success with student-led coffee shops and implementing a thriving breakfast-in-the-classroom program. Another district shared how they formed innovative partnerships with local farms to bring fresh produce into their cafeterias. These inspiring success stories showcase the positive impact our collective efforts can have on transforming the school meal experience for students.

Ohio attendees at LAC 2025

Why This Matters for You

For school nutrition staff, directors, and administrators, advocacy is a powerful tool that can help improve the resources available for your programs. Whether you attend LAC in the future or connect with local representatives in your community, sharing your firsthand experiences can shape policies that make a lasting impact.

Consider connecting with your local representatives to share the success stories in your district and the challenges you're facing. Real-life stories from school nutrition professionals are powerful tools for helping policymakers understand your needs. Use your voice! 

Moving Forward

At Pisanick Partners, we remain committed to advocating for school nutrition programs and supporting those who work tirelessly to feed our kids! We encourage you to get involved, stay informed, and continue to champion the importance of nutritious, accessible meals in our schools.

If you're looking for resources or guidance on navigating school nutrition policies, consider signing up for SNA’s newsletters to stay informed and up to date with the latest developments.