AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 7, 2010 – Today, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Janey Thornton visited a Texas elementary school to highlight Obama Administration efforts to improve school meals and viewed newly installed kitchen equipment. During her visit to the Decker Elementary School, Dr. Thornton highlighted how this equipment, funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is helping to provide more nutritious meals and creating jobs in local communities.
"Improving the nutrition and health of our Nation's children is critical to solving the twin challenges of reducing both childhood hunger and obesity in this country,"said Thornton. "We know that the Child Nutrition Act that Congress is considering can improve the overall health and wellness of our kids, but Recovery Act investments of new cafeteria equipment are also contributing to this effort."
Through the Recovery Act, USDA Food Nutrition Service provided $100 million to National School Lunch Program state agencies for competitive grants to school food authorities for the purchase of school food service equipment to help schools stimulate their economies and support local communities. Texas' share was almost $11.5 million. Of that amount, Decker Elementary School received over $17,000 for kitchen equipment. The school replaced their deep fat fryers for convection ovens which will allow them to prepare healthier food for the children.
Improving USDA's child nutrition programs on behalf of 32 million kids across the nation is a top priority of the Obama Administration. Strengthening the Child Nutrition Act, which authorizes USDA's child nutrition programs including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, is the legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. This legislation will serve as a down payment in battling hunger and food insecurity while providing critical resources to raise a generation of healthy children. To learn more about the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign, visit www.LetsMove.gov.
President Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 into law on Feb. 17, 2009. It is designed to jumpstart the nation's economy, create or save millions of jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. More information about the Federal government's efforts on the Recovery Act is available at www.recovery.gov.
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