Victory! President Obama Signs The "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act"

We're thrilled that in this time of rancorous partisan debate over almost every issue, the President and both houses of Congress agreed on this: it's time to make real improvements to school lunches and child nutrition.

This week, President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which aims to make school foods more nutritious and make meals available to thousands more needy American children. According to the Committee on Education and Labor, "For millions of families, the meals their children receive at school or in child care are their only chance at a healthy meal all day. In 2008, more than 16 million children lived in homes without access to enough nutritious food."

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act represents the first real increase in the Federal reimbursement rate for school lunches in over 30 years. According to a press release from the Committee on Education and Labor, the legislation also "improves and strengthens ... school breakfast, school lunch, after school and summer meals and meals served in childcare settings. It would also ensure more children are able to eat local, healthy produce by helping communities establish farm to school networks, create school gardens and use more local foods. In addition, it will prohibit junk food in schools by mandating that schools apply nutrition standards to food offered beyond school cafeterias.

This is great news for families all across the nation. Thank you for your part in bringing this legislation to fruition!

Photo credit: Early Childhood Education Consortium