The President & First Lady on Child Nutrition Bill: "The Basic Nutrition They Need to Learn and Grow and to Pursue Their Dreams"

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As one of her chief responsibilities and greatest passions, the First lady has dedicated herself to helping our children grow up healthy and reversing the alarming childhood obesity trend -- so the President's signing of the the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act this morning at a local DC school was particularly meaningful for her:

We can all agree that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, all children should have the basic nutrition they need to learn and grow and to pursue their dreams, because in the end, nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our children. Nothing. And our hopes for their future should drive every single decision that we make.

The President applauded the bipartisan support for this significant legislation, and explained the broader implications for how nutrition affects our kids as they grow up: "we need to make sure our kids have the energy and the capacity to go toe to toe with any of their peers, anywhere in the world. And we need to make sure that they’re all reaching their potential." A fact sheet (pdf) issued this morning along with statements of support from across the political spectrum described exactly how the bill acheives these goals, and a sample menu (pdf) shows what it will mean in real life:

Improves Nutrition and Focuses on Reducing Childhood Obesity

• Gives USDA the authority to set nutritional standards for all foods regularly sold in schools during the school day, including vending machines, the “a la carte” lunch lines, and school stores.

• Provides additional funding to schools that meet updated nutritional standards for federally-subsidized lunches. This is an historic investment, the first real reimbursement rate increase in over 30 years.

• Helps communities establish local farm to school networks, create school gardens, and ensures that more local foods are used in the school setting.

• Builds on USDA work to improve nutritional quality of commodity foods that schools receive from USDA and use in their breakfast and lunch programs.

• Expands access to drinking water in schools, particularly during meal times.

• Sets basic standards for school wellness policies including goals for nutrition promotion and education and physical activity, while still permitting local flexibility to tailor the policies to their particular needs.

• Promotes nutrition and wellness in child care settings through the federally-subsidized Child and Adult Care Food Program.

• Expands support for breastfeeding through the WIC program.

Increases Access

• Increases the number of eligible children enrolled in school meal programs by approximately 115,000 students by using Medicaid data to directly certify children who meet income requirements.

• Helps certify an average additional 4,500 students per year to receive school meals by setting benchmarks for states to improve the certification process.

• Allows more universal meal access for eligible students in high poverty communities by eliminating paper applications and using census data to determine school-wide income eligibility.

• Expands USDA authority to support meals served to at-risk children in afterschool programs.

Increases Program Monitoring and Integrity

• Requires school districts to be audited every three years to improve compliance with nutritional standards.

• Requires schools to make information more readily available to parents about the nutritional quality of meals.

• Includes provisions to ensure the safety of school foods like improving recall procedures and extending hazard analysis and food safety requirements for school meals throughout the campus.

• Provides training and technical assistance for school food service providers.

The First Lady spoke on the massive coalition that came behind this bill to make it possible:

These are the basic values that we all share, regardless of race, party, religion. This is what we share. These are the values that this bill embodies. And that’s why we’ve seen such a groundswell of support for these efforts –- not just from members of Congress here in Washington, but from folks in every corner of the country. It’s been beautiful to see.

From educators working to provide healthier school meals, because they know the connection between proper nutrition and academic performance.

From doctors and nurses who know that unhealthy kids grow into unhealthy adults –- at risk for obesity-related diseases like diabetes, heart disease, cancer.

From business and labor leaders who know that we spend nearly $150 billion a year to treat these diseases and who worry about the impact on our economy.

From advocates and faith leaders who know that school meals are vital for combating hunger, feeding more than 31 million children a day.

And from military leaders who tell us that when more than one in four young people are unqualified for military service because of their weight, they tell us that childhood obesity isn’t just a public health issue; they tell us that it is not just an economic threat -- it is a national security threat as well.

Now, these folks come at this issue from all different angles. But they’ve come together to support this bill because they know it’s the right thing to do for our kids. And they know that in the long run, it won’t just save money, but it’s going to save lives.

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USDA Recovery Act Loan Guarantees Spur Job Growth and Business Development

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The estimated number of jobs created or saved through USDA Recovery Act investments in rural America continues to grow. Today, I am in Ohio, where USDA has provided over $59.5 million in loan guarantees to help rural businesses grow, innovate and create jobs. You can see economic activity everywhere.

For example, consider Pride of the Hills Manufacturing, Inc., a company that supports the natural gas industry. Pride of the Hills was awarded $1,940,000 in financing through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), directed through USDA Rural Development’s Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program. The company will use the money to modernize equipment, improve operational efficiency and add 49 new jobs.

Earlier today I announced that 15 businesses in 10 states will receive over $60 million in USDA Recovery Act loan guarantees to create and save jobs. These represent just a small part of the $1.6 billion in guaranteed USDA business loan funding that will create or save an estimated 33,000 jobs across the nation.

Another business that will benefit is JBT Grain Company in Middleton, Michigan. Using a loan guaranteed by USDA, the firm will build a new feed mill and pellet plant, creating 16 new jobs. A Manchester, Tennessee firm was selected to receive funding to build a 48 unit assisted living facility. Not only will the development benefit residents, it has already generated 22 new health-care related jobs.

A host of success stories like these are included in a report that USDA issued last week highlighting some of the 2,000 businesses nationwide that are benefiting from guaranteed loans provided through the Recovery Act. When you read the report, you’ll see that the Recovery Act is continuing to provide jobs and stimulate economic activity in rural America.

The “Apps for Healthy Kids” Envelope, Please

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Suspense is building in advance of tomorrow’s highly anticipated awards ceremony for the “Apps for Healthy Kids” challenge, where the winners of $60,000 in prizes will be announced for newly created digital games and apps that best empower and inspire kids to eat healthy and get moving.

The Challenge—sponsored by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and launched in March by First Lady Michelle Obama as part of her Let’s Move! campaign to end childhood obesity—attracted nearly 100 entries from students, software designers, game developers, and independent entrepreneurs living and working in states all across the country. The games and apps they developed incorporate USDA nutritional information into entertaining digital adventures designed to inspire kids and their parents to follow healthier lifestyles.

Along the way, the challenge inspired the coordination of “game jams” in cities across the country, including George Mason University where I had the pleasure of kicking off the jam. Students and faculty joined in the spirit of collaboration to share ideas and test prototypes. The owners of Whyville.net built a platform of sorts where tweens and others could test-drive each other’s apps and games; and a huge community of supporters emerged to add enthusiasm and momentum to this healthful cause.

If you have any doubt about how much this challenge has captured the Nation’s attention and imagination, just look at the lineup for tomorrow’s ceremony, to be held on the White House complex, which will feature Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs; USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack; Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; the Executive Director of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! campaign, Robin Schepper; former Redskins Super Bowl champion running back Brian Mitchell; and yours truly as emcee.

So congratulations in advance to all those who stepped up to the Apps for Health Kids Challenge, and may the best App win! Then stay tuned for more: Many are already gearing up for the next challenge—the Recipes for Healthy Kids challenge.

Continued Recovery for America’s Agricultural Economy

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Yesterday I was pleased to receive the encouraging news from two USDA reports that illustrate the strength of the recovery in our agricultural economy. The 2010 Farm Income Forecast and Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade show a positive picture for 2010, and predict sustained growth for the future.

This recovery is a testament to the 2008 Farm Bill, to a wide range of efforts of the Obama Administration – such as the Recovery Act – to move the economy forward and to support the agriculture economy, and the hard work and resilience of America’s farmers and ranchers.

Like the rest of the economy, the agriculture sector has struggled through tough economic times. But after declining more than 20 percent in 2009, the main measures of farm sector earnings experienced a rapid rebound and are forecast to rise in 2010. Net farm income has rebounded, up 24 percent from 2009. And net cash income will be the second highest on record.

Just as important – this recovery was sector-wide. While an increase in the value of livestock production accounted for much of the upward movement, there is also an increase in the value of dairy production, meat animal production, and poultry and egg production. And this progress is having an immediate effect on the lives of millions of Americans: average farm family household income is projected to reach more than $81,000 in 2010 – up 5.8 percent from 2009.

These forecasts highlight the importance of USDA’s work to increase agricultural exports as a part of President Obama’s National Export Initiative. We are pursuing a new trade strategy which looks at nations based on the nature of their marketplace. We have worked hard to negotiate the removal of barriers to exporting pork, poultry and other products. And we have pursued an international trading system with rules based on the best available science to ensure that U.S. agricultural producers have fair access to foreign markets.

These efforts mean that agriculture is one of the only major sectors of the economy with a trade surplus, which we expect to be worth $30.5 billion this year. Overall, we agricultural exports should be worth $107.5 billion in fiscal year 2010 – up from $96 billion in 2009 – and we expect them to rise again in 2011. More importantly, this progress should create good jobs for Americans: USDA studies show that every billion dollars in agricultural exports supports over 8,000 jobs and generates an additional $1.4 billion in economic activity.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the underlying values of rural America has played in this strong and rapid recovery. The dedication of our farmers and ranchers is second to none. They have worked hard keep their debt low and to capitalize on a broader economic recovery. And their willingness to adapt, innovate and embrace new research has ensured their success for decades and was main reason they have been so resilient in the current economy.

As the American economy continues to climb out of the recession, with help from the Obama administration and USDA, American Agriculture is helping to lead the charge. American farmers and ranchers have stayed resilient, and will continue to support a foundation of economic prosperity for the rest of the nation.

Five Years After Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, USDA Continues to Assist Gulf Residents

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Devastation caused five years ago to the Gulf region by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita remains historic in proportion. It resulted in loss of life, families being displaced, homes and businesses destroyed, and communities left in ruins. In the midst of this great tragedy, USDA Rural Development lent their knowledge and time to assist in the immediate hours following the passing of the storms. It was a new, but critical role of supporting other Federal agencies in swiftly establishing 80 disaster recovery centers; assisting local residents and leaders as they faced unparalleled adversity.

In the early days of the recovery efforts, USDA Rural Development placed 10,343 evacuees in 3,552 available housing units in 45 states, provided over 22,000 families with temporary loan forbearance agreements on their mortgage payments, and received almost 11,000 calls for assistance from affected residents. Over the last five years, USDA Rural Development continued to stand beside Gulf Coast families and communities as they undertook the challenge of rebuilding their lives and local economies.

Today, we have great pride in how families and communities have regained their sense of dignity and hope, in many cases, because USDA Rural Development was there along the path to recovery. One example is Ms. Samantha Hills, a single mother of two daughters who spent the last five years living with relatives. Employed as a bus driver with St. Charles Parish Schools, and working part-time as manager with Burger King, Ms. Hill has utilized funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to buy her own home. She is one of hundreds of Louisiana families that have utilized USDA Rural Development’s single-family housing programs to rebuild their lives. In fact, over the last two years, over 1,100 Louisiana families have been assisted through $165 million in ARRA funds for financing their home.

When we look at the devastation caused by Katrina and Rita, or later with the Mid-West floods, or more recently the Gulf oil spill, we are reminded that both man-made and natural disasters frequently leave families and communities with a great sense of loss and the emotional and financial challenge of rebuilding their homes, businesses and communities. I am proud of the women and men of USDA Rural Development, who rolled up their sleeves to help in this rebuilding effort.

Grown Locally and Sold Globally: Creating Jobs Through Agricultural Exports

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Recently, I’ve been traveling across the country to meet with local business leaders, workers and farmers to talk about how trade can support well-paying jobs right here at home. Yesterday I travelled to the Bangor State Fair in Maine. In its 161st year, this traditional Maine summer event was a perfect place to showcase the importance of agricultural exports to the economic recovery.

I had the opportunity to join Bangor State Fair Director Mike Dyer and USDA Rural Development State Director for Maine Virginia Manuel. With the help of Penobscott County 4-H students, I was able to see first-hand a wide selection of the great American farm products that are sold around the world. I met high school student Matt Davis and his best in show winning dairy cow. I also saw goats and chickens. College students Majorie Hardy and Haley Emery gave me a tour of the 4-H students' project area where I was able to talk with students about the importance of growing locally and selling globally.

These products help to demonstrate why exports are an important and consistent part of the President’s economic recovery plan. In fact, U.S. exports contributed over one percentage point to GDP growth (at an annual rate) in each of the last four quarters of recovery and have contributed over 1.5 percentage points to growth in the last year. This was a larger contribution than consumption or fixed investment. And U.S. agricultural exports have continued to expand, more than doubling from about $50 billion in fiscal year 2000 to a projected $105 billion for fiscal year 2010. Last year, America exported $97 billion in agricultural products, supporting a $23 billion agricultural trade surplus.

At USTR, we’re working to find more market opportunities for American agriculture through agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the U.S.-Korea trade agreement – already our fifth largest agricultural export market. In Maine, almost 75 percent of all exports are sent to the Asia-Pacific Region.

We’re also developing new tools to aid enforcement of farmers’ and ranchers’ trade rights. In March, we published the first USTR reports focused specifically on unjustified technical barriers to trade and on non-science based sanitary and phytosanitary standards that unfairly keep our agricultural products out of foreign markets. We are using this information to expand exports of safe, high-quality U.S. agricultural products.

USTR is taking every opportunity to make sure that smart trade policy works for every American. Because when markets are open and American businesses and farmers have a level-playing field to compete on, no one can beat us, and that means we can keep creating good jobs in Maine and all across America.

USDA and the Commerce Department Supporting Broadband Access and Economic Opportunity Across America through the Recovery Act

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When Congress passed and the President signed the Recovery Act, they made a $7.2 billion commitment to improving this country’s broadband infrastructure. They understood broadband will be an essential piece of a successful 21st century economy. But it can only be so if we deploy networks that offer all Americans quality service, while also teaching the skills to use broadband and encouraging its use to promote our national priorities, including education, health care, energy, and public safety.

Together, we’re excited to be moving quickly to make these goals a reality. Today, the Department of Agriculture is awarding roughly $1.2 billion for 126 projects across the country to connect homes, businesses, and critical community institutions like hospitals and police stations, that don't currently have adequate access. Many tribal areas, and areas designated as "persistent poverty counties" will be served. For example, Cimarron Telephone Company in Oklahoma will provide broadband service to parts of five counties and to members of the Osage, Pawnee and Creek tribes. Another firm, Atlink, will provide service to 14 central Oklahoma persistent poverty communities that currently have no access to the internet at any speed. The delivery of broadband to these areas will promote rural economic development, improve access to education, health care, public safety and most importantly, provide the infrastructure needed to create the environment for the growth of quality jobs. Without the Internet, business growth is stifled.

As we’ve said before, we’re on track to get all our broadband awards out the door by the end of September. Today’s awards put us one step closer. In fact, over the next 60 days, we will award the remaining roughly $4 billion dollars to help provide critical broadband services to states and communities across the country. To be as transparent as we can in this effort, below is a calendar outlining what you can expect from our programs in the next 60 days.

Agency	Expected Approx # of Projects	Expected Approx. Dollar Amount	Description
Week of August 16
USDA	50	$190 million	These awards will support a series of last-mile projects.
Commerce	70	$1.3-$1.6 billion	These awards will support public computing, broadband adoption, community infrastructure, and some public safety projects.
Week of Sept. 6
USDA	65	$450 million	These awards will support a series of last-mile projects, as well as satellite and technical assistance projects.
Commerce	50	$600-$900 million	These awards will support public computing, broadband adoption, community infrastructure, and some public safety projects.
Week of Sept. 27
Commerce	15	$300-$600 million	These awards will primarily support public safety projects, but may also include a handful of community infrastructure, public computing, and broadband adoption projects.
Commerce		$100-$200 million	These awards will support broadband mapping efforts.

This calendar doesn’t convey the true power of every dollar we spend—many of the projects leverage outside capital, too. For example, while the Recovery Act allocated $2.5 billion to USDA for broadband, that should support more than $3.5 billion in activity.

While we’re excited about all of our awards and the opportunities they represent for people, businesses, and communities, we’re particularly excited about some of the awards that will come in the next two months. The Department of Commerce, for example, will announce more than half of their remaining awards the week of August 16. As with previous awards, these projects will include infrastructure projects, the creation up of public computing centers, as well as the setting up of programs that train people on the skills they need to succeed in tomorrow’s economy—and, increasingly, today’s. But they will likely also include the first of the public safety projects to be granted—supporting mobile broadband networks that will finally give our first responders the access they need to real-time information and reliable communications at the scene of an emergency. Similar awards will continue through the end of September. In fact, the majority of the final awards from the Commerce Department will go to public safety.

USDA plans to award funding to continue to improve educational and job opportunities for residents of rural America. There are fewer people in rural America with college degrees and more people who have no high school diploma. The combination of that means that we have to continue focusing on how we improve education in rural America to build job growth, which in turn allows folks to stay on the farm. Broadband is a key component in that effort.

We are looking forward to the two months ahead when we will be rolling out the remainder of our awards, and we hope many of you are as well. We’re excited to be finally building the infrastructure of the future, and to be executing the President’s and Congress’ vision of a high-speed, high-performance America.