Release No. 0149.10

Contact: USDA Office of Communications
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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Statement on the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Mark-Up

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2010 - Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the following statement regarding the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry's meeting to consider the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.

"I applaud Chairman Lincoln, Senator Chambliss, and the membership of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their efforts to develop a strong bill to reauthorize and reform the Child Nutrition Act. Today's Senate action shows that there is broad, bipartisan support for reforming our school meals programs to improve meal quality and reduce barriers to participation. The Senate's Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is a significant step toward legislation that reduces hunger, improves the health of our children, and supports their academic achievement. Though we continue to believe that additional access and nutrition goals can and should be accomplished by passing a more robust bill that supports the President's $10 billion budget request, the bipartisan Senate action today is a very positive step forward. I congratulate the Senate Agriculture Committee for its work today and call on Congress to continue to make progress on this important priority."

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Last modified: 11/27/2012