Senator Frank Padavan hosted a Senior Health and Information Expo Thursday, May 17, and Friday, May 18. The expo provided free service tables and information on blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, glaucoma, podiatry, dental, diabetes, cardiac programs, nutrition, a pharmacist for medication review and a lecture on Medicaid D programs, among others.

Senator Frank Padavan announced that the state Senate has passed legislation that would establish stronger guidelines for nutritious and healthy food choices in schools by the 2008-09 school year. The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support in the state Senate and now awaits action in the state Assembly.

The sweeping initiative, entitled the Childhood Healthy Access to Meals Program (CHAMP), will increase spending caps for local school districts to allow for the purchase of produce and dairy products.

The bill also empowers the State Education Department (SED) to examine the nutritional and physical education curriculum in schools throughout the state in order to foster an increase in physical activity and healthy lifestyles among children.

"Recent studies have shown that childhood obesity continues to climb at a staggering and frightening rate," Padavan said. "This legislation is a significant step to help eradicate obesity today and for generations to come. By instilling a new standard of nutrition and healthy food options, students and their parents will be more aware of ways to ward off obesity and the long-term harmful health effects it will have in the future."

Under CHAMP, the State Education Department is to periodically gather data related to the impact of nutritional guidelines on students statewide and report their finding to the governor and state Legislature no later than December 15, 2010.

"I am confident that CHAMP will help spark a new trend of healthy and vibrant children throughout the state of New York," Padavan said. "We owe it to our children and grandchildren to do everything we can to provide healthy and fit futures."