New Mexico: Historic Bill Emphasizes Nutrition in Education, Health Care

Categories

Health

Legislation

In what seems to be a clear break with the treatment-based medical approach to health, a bill was introduced in New Mecico's State Senate that would emphasize nutrition education in schools and the use of nutrition-based prevention in health care. Information courtesy of Stephen Fox.

Historic New Mexico legislation was introduced today, January 31, 2005, in the New Mexico Senate, to create a new, powerful Advisory Council for Nutrition, comprised of physicians (including a toxicologist, a cardiologist, a pediatrician, and an internist), a dentist, educators, a biochemist, a certified nutritionist, representatives of the environment, health, and education departments and from the office of the New Mexico Attorney General's office.

The Nutrition Advisory Council will advise various branches of state government, with the hope and intent that New Mexico can create a higher standard of nutrition and health for its citizens than is possible through the presently corporate-controlled United States Food and Drug Administration. Language in the bill clearly states that the federal government has not entirely pre-empted regulation of food quality, and that there is plenty of room for states to create the highest possible nutritional standards in order to protect the health of citizens.

The bill will require a course in Nutrition and Health in order to graduate from High School in New Mexico, as well as nutrition course requirements for health practicioners, including the University of New Mexico Medical School.

The legislation was introduced by the President Pro-Tempore of the NM Senate, Ben D. Altamirano, Democrat of Silver City, New Mexico, and will be introduced February 1 in the NM House of Representatives by Rep. Irvin Harrison Democrat of Gallup, NM.

NM Senate Bill 525 represents a quantum leap as consumer protection, and an enormous revitalization of consumer protection laws.

This is landmark legislation which recognizes the medical effects of carcinogens and neurotoxins, particularly excitotoxins, so rampant as industrial additives to the human diet, which can be easily adapted by concerned citizens and legislators in any state in the USA, or by any nation in the world.

- - -

Meanwhile, healthcare reform is on the agenda. See what Steven Perlstein of the Washington Post says in his article "What 'Dr. Bush' Ought to Prescribe":

"... we can only imagine what would happen if doctors would agree to be paid according to whether they delivered good outcomes at a reasonable cost, rather than according to how many procedures they performed."

Now that would be a novel thought. Perhaps, if outcome mattered, doctors would more willingly embrace nutition-based prevention or even non-toxic healing modalities that rely on providing metabolic substances the body needs to defend against illness.

- - -

-- CALL TO ACTION --

In order to further this legislation, Senate Bill 525 (2005), please write to and telephone the office of New Mexico's Governor, with your encouragement that he do everything possible to enact this vital and long over due legislation:

Honorable Bill Richardson
Governor of New Mexico
4th Floor, The Capitol
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501

(505) 827-3000

-----------------------------

For Media Questions, and for persons wishing to congratulate and commend the Bill's sponsors, contact the Office of the Senate President Pro-Tempore, Senator Altamirano, at (505) 986-4633, and Representative Harrison, (505) 986-4464.

-----------------------------

Stephen Fox
New Millennium Fine Art
217 W. Water
Santa Fe, NM 87501

stephen@santafefineart.com (505) 983-2002

- - -

SENATE BILL 525

(see original here)

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Ben D. Altamirano

AN ACT

RELATING TO NUTRITION; CREATING A NUTRITION COUNCIL; PROVIDING DUTIES; CREATING A FUND; REQUIRING NUTRITION AND HEALTH COURSES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; REQUIRING NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR CERTAIN LICENSED PRACTITIONERS; REQUIRING STUDIES; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. [NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1 through 7 of this act may be cited as the "Nutrition Council Act".

Section 2. [NEW MATERIAL] FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.--

A. The legislature finds that federal authorities have not intended to or expressed an intention to occupy and preempt the areas of nutrition addressed in the Nutrition Council Act and, therefore, the legislature may create a nutrition council to make recommendations to protect and ensure public health and safety for all New Mexicans.

B. The purpose of the Nutrition Council Act is to improve the quality of food grown in, produced in or imported into New Mexico or exported from New Mexico and to educate New Mexico citizens in good nutritional choices.

Section 3. [NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Nutrition Council Act:

A. "council" means the nutrition council; and

B. "director" means the director of the council.

Section 4. [NEW MATERIAL] NUTRITION COUNCIL--CREATED--MEMBERSHIP.--

A. The "nutrition council" is created, composed of the following members:

(1) the assistant attorney general for consumer protection or the assistant attorney general's designee;

(2) the secretary of public education or the secretary's designee;

(3) the secretary of health or the secretary's designee; and

(4) the following members appointed by the governor, who serves at the pleasure of the governor:

(a) one pediatrician;

(b) one internist or family practitioner;

(c) one cardiologist;

(d) one toxicologist;

(e) one doctorate-level biochemist;

(f) one licensed nutritionist;

(g) one farmer;

(h) one rancher;

(i) one faculty member of the university of New Mexico school of medicine;

(j) one dentist; and

(k) one public member who is appointed on the basis of active involvement in the area of nutrition.

B. Members of the council who are not paid by taxpayer funds may receive per diem and mileage expenses pursuant to the Per Diem and Mileage Act, but shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance.

C. The council shall annually elect a chair and vice chair. The council shall meet at the call of the chair, a majority of the members or the director. The director shall serve as staff to the council.

D. The council is administratively attached to the department of health.

Section 5. [NEW MATERIAL] COUNCIL--DUTIES.--The council shall:

A. study ways to improve the operations of state government relating to nutrition programs and to the provision of nutrition services to the residents of the state;

B. recommend courses of instruction and practical training for employees of departments and other persons involved in the administration of state nutrition programs with the objective of improving the operations and efficiency of the administration;

C. develop nutrition education programs for food stamp recipients;

D. in consultation with nutrition experts and the appropriate state agencies, recommend nutrition programs, public education programs and campaigns on health, nutrition and ideal weight maintenance for all state institutions and public schools, colleges and universities;

E. consult with the university of New Mexico school of medicine to ensure that its nutrition curricula train medical students in basic nutrition and how to prevent and treat nutritional diseases;

F. recommend the development and implementation of nutrition and food safety programs to ensure the nutritional health of New Mexico residents and the safety of their food;

G. advise the appropriate departments, including the office of the attorney general, on areas of concern such as:

(1) the effect of food additives, specifically carcinogens and neurotoxins, on the health of all New Mexicans, particularly on pregnant women, neonates and preschool-age children;

(2) the incidence of diabetes on Indian pueblos and reservations;

(3) the effects of food-induced hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders in children resulting from their ingestion of monosodium glutamate and excitotoxins;

(4) obesity in all age groups; and

(5) other areas deemed important by the council;

H. make recommendations on ways to improve nutrition in New Mexico;

I. assist the appropriate agencies in developing educational materials on nutrition and on toxic or potentially toxic additives to foods and processes that result in food toxicity;

J. through the public education department, advise public school districts on the development of nutrition courses that are grade specific and that use texts in the field of nutrition, preventive cardiology, preventive oncology and preventive toxicology for New Mexico secondary school students;

K. develop a nutrition questionnaire to be sent