WASHINGTON, March 17, 2010 —Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued the statement below in response to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act unveiled today:

"I commend Chairman Lincoln and Senator Chambliss for their leadership on the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization. Improving the quality of school meals and the health of the school environment is critically important to the overall health of our kids, in addition to their academic achievement. At the same time, we must improve access to these vital programs and take steps to reduce hunger. The framework announced today makes progress toward both goals. Though we believe that additional access and nutrition goals can and should be accomplished by passing a more robust bill that supports the President's request of $10 billion in additional funding, the bipartisan announcement today is a very positive step forward."

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