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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Address National Academy of Sciences Roundtable on Obesity Solutions

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26, 2016 — On Tues., Sept. 27, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver the closing keynote address the National Academy of Sciences’ third annual Roundtable on Obesity Solutions.

Under Secretary Vilsack’s leadership, USDA has played an integral role in the Obama Administration’s work to address the twin challenges of obesity and food insecurity, implementing changes under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act that have overhauled the meals and snacks our nation’s children eat in schools, and increasing low income families’ access to healthy foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Earlier this month, USDA released a new report showing that 2015 marked a significant benchmark in America’s battle against hunger and food insecurity, an issue that goes hand in hand with the obesity crisis.

Importantly, the report points to the lowest figures on record for food insecurity among children—a major achievement in our country’s efforts to ensure every child has a safer, healthier future filled with unlimited opportunity. USDA has been committed to making nutritious options available to SNAP participants, while providing enhanced nutrition education and incentives to help SNAP participants purchase more fruits and vegetables. Nutritional improvements in the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may have also contributed to declining obesity rates that have been observed among our nation’s youngest children.

Thanks to the standards USDA has implemented under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, 50 million children have healthier food available to them at school and obesity rates have fallen. Secretary Vilsack will discuss USDA’s successes in this Administration and the critical need to continue this legacy.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

WHAT:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to deliver keynote remarks on obesity prevention at the National Academy of Sciences Roundtable on Obesity Solutions.

WHEN:

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

3:30 p.m.: Vilsack’s Remarks

WHERE:

The National Academy of Sciences Building (NAS)

2101 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, D.C. 20418

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