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Acting FNCS Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Lipps today highlighted the vital work FNS has done this year to provide food assistance to the millions of Americans impacted by unprecedented hurricanes and wildfires, as well as the numerous actions FNCS has taken to promote self-sufficiency, integrity, and customer service within federal nutrition programs.

Los niños en Puerto Rico empezarán a recibir comida gratuita en las escuelas y colegios en un esfuerzo para proporcionar alivio a aquellos que han sido afectados por el huracán Maria, afirmó hoy el Departamento de Agricultura de EE.UU. (USDA). Esta medida potencialmente ayudará a más de 1,550 escuelas y 450,000 niños.

Children in Puerto Rico will receive free school meals in an effort to provide further relief to those affected by Hurricane Maria, USDA today announced. The measure will potentially affect more than 1,550 schools and 450,000 children.

Individuals receiving benefits under Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program, who have been displaced due to the recent hurricanes, can apply for SNAP benefits in the area where they currently reside.

Puerto Rico families struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria have started receiving assistance in the form of food boxes packed with nutritious, 100 percent American grown and produced USDA Foods.

New resources for nutrition education and food service training are coming to schools during this back to school season in 11 states selected to receive a total of $5.3 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture grants awarded today.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today named three individuals to take on leadership roles within the USDA's Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. Brandon Lipps will serve as the Administrator  and also as Acting Deputy Under Secretary until the Senate confirms a permanent presidential-nominated appointee.  In addition, Maggie Lyons will serve as Chief of Staff and senior advisor to the Under Secretary, while Kailee Tkacz will serve as policy advisor. 

USDA today announced the award of $31.5 million in Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children Grants to explore ways to alleviate hunger among low-income children during the summer, including new projects in Texas and Tennessee. Rigorous evaluations of continuing projects have found that Summer EBT can significantly reduce very low food security among children, the most severe form of food insecurity, by one-third.

USDA today announced the projects selected to receive its annual farm to school grants designed to increase the amount of local foods served in schools. Sixty-five projects were chosen nationwide.

Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced that USDA will provide greater flexibility in nutrition requirements for school meal programs in order to make food choices both healthful and appealing to students. 

USDA today announced the seven retail firms selected to take part in a pilot designed to enable SNAP participants to purchase their groceries online. The two-year pilot is slated to begin this summer.