Duncan, Vilsack urge better school food

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Monday urged Congress to pass legislation that would improve school meals.

The child nutrition bill, pending in the House, would help improve the national school breakfast and lunch programs and help improve how children across the country would have access to healthier meals, the Cabinet officials said in a release.

"USDA is doing its part to strengthen the school meal programs by improving program access and enhancing the nutritional quality of meals and the health of the school environment -- but we must do more," Vilsack said during an event he attended with Duncan at a District of Columbia school. "Congress must pass this critical legislation this year, for our children, our collective health and the future of our great nation."

The event was at River Terrace Elementary School, the first D.C.-area school to achieve a Gold Award in the Healthier U.S. School Challenge. The school's work resulted in students eating more fruits and vegetables at lunch and increasing physical activity.

"A hungry child struggles to learn," Duncan said. "If our children are going to succeed in school, we need to make sure they have access to nutritious meals at home or at school."

Among other things, the proposed Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act would:

-- Increase access to meal programs.

-- Improve nutrition standards.

-- Increase education about healthy eating.

-- Establish standards for competitive foods sold in schools.

-- Increase physical activity.

-- Train people who prepare school meals.

-- Enhance food safety.