Senate Ag Committee announced the witness list for the first hearing on the re-authorization of US Childhood Nutrition Programs recently. This is a much awaited, and delayed, process -- stakeholders and advocates have been champing at the bit to get going and have their say. CNR will, of course, touch on a broad range of subjects affecting children's health, especially obesity, education and even the diversification of the food system nationwide in Arkansas. Am I wrong about that? Well, just look who has been invited? The nation's Arkansas' top experts, natch! Check it out:

Dr. Margaret Bogle, Executive Director, Delta Obesity Prevention Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Little Rock, AR

Mr. Rich Huddleston, Executive Director, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Little Rock, AR

Ms. Rhonda Sanders, Executive Director, Arkansas Hunger Alliance, Little Rock, AR

Ms. Jennifer Smith, Director, Compliance, Walmart, Bentonville, AR

That's everyone, folks. Ag Commitee Chair Blanche Lincoln of, you guessed it, Arkansas has put together quite the panel, don't you think? Thankfully, there's someone representing small-town Arkansas, too -- the witness from Bentonville... I mean, what's a debate over childhood nutrition programs without getting Walmart's take, right?

This all reminds me of a great joke.

Q: How do Senators spell reform?

A: D-O-A.

Get it?

Labels: food, health, politics