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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.

Results of USDA's report posted today on the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children demonstration project confirm a significant reduction in food insecurity among participating families. The project tested two benefit levels – $30 and $60 per month per child – both of which were found to reduce the most severe form of food insecurity and led to positive nutritional outcomes.

Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today announced $26.9 million in grant funds to be distributed among eight grantees to continue administering pilots of the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer programs, providing summertime nutrition assistance to children who receive free and reduced price meals during the school year. In addition to funding existing pilots for summer 2016, these grants will extend benefits to new rural areas, Tribal Nations, and areas of extreme need including Flint, Michigan. 

Today, the White House will host a conversation about child hunger in America, with experts and direct service providers discussing how hunger continues to harm children across the country. Participants will discuss the role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other core nutrition programs in ensuring American children have the fuel they need to thrive. 

Today, Secretary Tom Vilsack joined representatives from Milwaukee's Hunger Task Force, the Kohl's Corporation, and members of the Milwaukee community to bring attention to childhood hunger.

Continuing USDA’s focus on childhood hunger during National Nutrition Month, Administrator Audrey Rowe today announced  USDA 2015 goal of serving 200 million meals to children and teens in low-income communities this summer – 14 million more than were served in 2014. 

Complementary programs that extend the reach of the USDA summer meal programs could help reduce childhood food insecurity during the summer, according to three studies released today by FNS. The studies found that making enhancements to the traditional program, or utilizing alternate methods of reaching eligible children, could reach additional children and reduce childhood food insecurity during the summer to levels normally seen in the fall.

USDA today announced that up to $200 million in competitive grants is available for state SNAP agencies to design and conduct employment and training pilot projects to help SNAP participants find jobs and increase their earnings.

Hoy el secretario de Agricultura Tom Vilsack dio inicio a la Semana Nacional del Programa de Servicio de Alimentos de Verano, reiterando el compromiso del USDA de asegurar que ningún niño pase hambre cuando no hay escuela y resaltando el progreso hacia la meta de servir 5 millones de comidas más a los niños elegibles en todo el país.