Bread for the World Welcomes Administration's Child Nutrition Priorities

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a teleconference call with the news media Friday morning, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack highlighted the administration's priorities for the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization, including opportunities to make progress on childhood hunger.

"President Obama has committed to ending child hunger by 2015. Secretary Vilsack has been charged with making that goal a reality, and the strategies he discussed today will put us on the right track," said Rev. David Beckmann, president of Bread for the World. "Bread for the World shares many of the same priorities discussed today for improving access to child nutrition programs. We will work with Secretary Vilsack to strengthen these programs so that no child in America goes to bed hungry."

Among the administration's priorities, Sec. Vilsack specifically addressed the need to improve children's access to meals over the school summer break. He highlighted a provision included in the agriculture appropriations bill signed by the president on Wednesday that would study new methods of providing children with food in the summer.

"Child nutrition programs provide an immediate and direct way to reduce child hunger and improve health and educational outcomes. Yet these programs could do far more to reduce hunger simply by reaching more eligible kids," Rev. Beckmann said. "We applaud the administration's focus on improving program access and participation for eligible children so that more hungry children get the food they need."

Of the more than 18 million children receiving free or reduced-price lunches each school day, only 12 percent participate in summer food programs. "Improving access to food assistance in the summer is a top priority if we are to end child hunger," said Rev. Beckmann.

He added that another priority highlighted by Sec. Vilsack is strengthening direct certification provisions that automatically enroll eligible children in school meal programs. "The administration and Secretary Vilsack are taking the right approach by exploring such new and innovative strategies."

Earlier this week, Sec. Vilsack appeared at the White House with First Lady Michelle Obama at a "Healthy Kids Fair" focused on healthy eating and good nutrition for children, and Rev. Beckmann attended.

Bread for the World lists its priorities for child nutrition reauthorization on its website, at http://www.bread.org/learn/child-nutrition/legislative-priorities.html

Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad.

SOURCE Bread for the World