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USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today joined San Francisco Board of Education President Hydra Mendoza in a tour of E.R. Taylor Elementary School to see how the school exemplifies First Lady Obama's Let's Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation. They observed children participating in organized physical activity, visited the school garden, and participated in a cooking lesson. The event is one of dozens taking place around the country this week to inspire communities, families and schools to take action against childhood obesity.

USDA today announced that children placed into the foster care system by a state or court are categorically eligible to receive free meals in all USDA child nutrition programs. The expansion of categorical eligibility to foster children is a component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 which President Obama signed into law Dec. 13, 2010.

Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton today joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District and Chef Timothy Cipriano, Executive Director, New Haven Public School Food Services, and New England Patriots' Ron Brace to unveil a new salad bar at Mauro-Sheridan Science, Technology and Communications School as part of Let's Move! Salad Bars to Schools.

Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today joined the District of Columbia State Superintendent of Education Hosanna Mahaley in a special ceremony to present Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School a USDA HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Award of Distinction. 

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan joined U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer today at George Washington Carver Elementary School in Lexington Park, Md. to highlight the rapid implementation and importance of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that reauthorizes USDA's child nutrition programs and is already providing benefits to children across the country.

USDA today published a proposed rule to update the nutrition standards for meals served through the school lunch and breakfast programs. The new proposed will raise standards for the first time in 15 years to help improve the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day,

The USDA today published a proposed rule to update the nutrition standards for meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded teams participating in the Recipes for Healthy Kids Competition to submit their recipes. Teams across the country are working to improve school meals and the health of children across the nation through the creation of exciting new recipes for inclusion on school lunch menus. 

Deputy Administrator Audrey Rowe today recognized Minshew Elementary School in McKinney, Texas for their excellence in school nutrition.

Under Secretary Kevin Concannon  joined Sesame Workshop for their launch of a multimedia outreach initiative, "Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget," designed to help low-income families cope with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.

Agriculture Under Secretary Kevin Concannon today visited the Fairmont Dual Immersion Academy to see firsthand the school's efforts to improve the quality of meals in the National School Lunch Program. The visit, conducted as Congress is considering legislation to pass the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act, showcased the local school's efforts to improve meals.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today invited states to develop and test alternative methods of providing food for low-income children in urban and rural areas during the summer.

FNCS Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton, today recognized 52 Alabama Public Schools receiving the HealthierUS School Challenge award at the Pelham Civic Center.

Audrey Rowe, Deputy Administrator, today presented Kelly-Miller Middle School with silver-level honors in USDA's HealthierUS School Challenge - the first silver award achieved by a school in the District of Columbia.

Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary Janey Thornton today visited Geyser Road Elementary School to see firsthand its approach to creating healthy school meals and a healthy environment. During her visit, Thornton discussed the Obama administration's efforts to enhance school meals and the health of America's children.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA will expand assistance to state agencies for schools operating USDA's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in the 2011/2012 school year. The investment is part of the Obama administration's efforts to improve the health of our children by providing access to nutritious meals in schools and also serves as a valuable resource to schools that continue working to improve the health and nutrition of the foods they serve. The assistance will provide free fresh fruit and vegetables to children throughout the school day.

Secretary Tom Vilsack will highlight the Obama Administration's priorities for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act and to advocate for the rapid passage of a strong reauthorization bill to reduce hunger and improve the health and nutrition of our nation's children.

Today, Under Secretary Kevin Concannon marked the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, better known as the stimulus or recovery package. USDA received an additional $100 million to provide food to local food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens through The Emergency Food Assistance Program and an additional $50 million to ensure timely administration and distribution. The ARRA funding also provided an additional $100 million in grants to local school systems in an effort to enhance the nutritional quality of school meals.

Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the availability of $25 million in grants to help schools operating a National School Lunch Program replace outdated equipment with new, energy efficient, appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, and other food service related equipment.