USDA and HHS Invite Oral Public Comments at the Second Meeting of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

Press Release

Release No.

FNS 0006.19

Contact: FNS Communications

Update: Due to a technical issue the Office of the Federal Register is experiencing with the Public Inspection List on its website, USDA is delaying the registration for the second Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee meeting to ensure equitable access for all who wish to participate. Registration will open at 9:00 am, Eastern Time, Tuesday, June 18, 2019.

Washington, DC, June 17, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) invites the public to register to attend the second meeting of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. The meeting, which includes an opportunity for oral comments from the public, will be held at USDA headquarters in the Jefferson Auditorium on July 10 and 11. Registration for in-person attendance begins on June 18, 2019 and closes at 5:00 p.m. July 1, 2019. Prior to this deadline, the public can also sign up, on a first-come, first served basis, to provide oral public comments to the committee during the meeting’s second day. Please visit DietaryGuidelines.gov for full registration details.

“Science-based dietary guidance is critical to a healthy future for our nation, and the process by which it is developed should be open and transparent,” said Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Acting Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps. “We are pleased to highlight this next opportunity for the public to learn more about the Committee’s scientific review, and to offer their comments in person at the July meeting. All those who care about these issues can stay informed and involved by providing written comments and visiting DietaryGuidelines.gov.”

USDA and HHS look forward to robust public participation. This is the second of five meetings scheduled for the committee. An ongoing public comment period will remain open throughout the committee’s deliberations to ensure the public can submit comments. During this meeting – as well as the fourth meeting – the public will be able to provide oral public comments to the committee. Registration to sign up to provide oral comments is now open and is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The meeting will also be webcast live and the recording will be made available at a later date.

The full list of remaining meetings includes:

July 10-11, 2019 – USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC
- Register to present oral comments by July 1, 2019
Oct. 24-25, 2019 – USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC
Jan. 23-24, 2020 – USDA Agricultural Research Service in Houston, TX
- Register to present oral comments by Jan. 14, 2020
March 12-13, 2020 – USDA Headquarters in Washington, DC

“Public input and participation are a key component of developing policy and guidance that improves the health of the American people,” said ADM Brett P. Giroir, Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS. “We value comments and oral testimony that will help the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee answer important scientific questions related to nutrition and inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”

The 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is made up of 20 individuals of diverse backgrounds who are regarded as national thought leaders in the areas of nutrition and health. The independent advisory committee’s review, along with public and agency comments, will help inform USDA and HHS as the departments develop the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

For the first time, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans will include recommendations for pregnant women, and children from birth to 24 months. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans serves as the cornerstone of federal nutrition programs and policies, providing food-based recommendations that help prevent diet-related chronic diseases and promote overall health. According to the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, the guidelines are mandated to reflect the preponderance of scientific evidence and are published jointly by USDA and HHS every five years.

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) works to reduce food insecurity and promote nutritious diets among the American people. The agency administers 15 nutrition assistance programs that leverage American’s agricultural abundance to ensure children and low-income individuals and families have nutritious food to eat. FNS also co-develops the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which provide science-based nutrition recommendations and serve as the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy.

The HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) provides leadership for disease prevention and health promotion initiatives on behalf of the HHS Secretary and as part of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. ODPHP co-develops the Dietary Guidelines for Americans with USDA and leads the development of Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. ODPHP also houses the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition and the Healthy People initiative, which sets evidence-based, 10-year national goals and objectives for improving the health of all Americans.

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