This week, Brooke Rollins was confirmed as the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, where she will be tasked with the critical role of ensuring that millions of kids can access the food they need to grow, learn and thrive.
Today, 1 in 5 kids in the U.S. faces hunger. Under the leadership of Secretary Rollins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can fully leverage our nation's powerful anti-hunger programs to end child hunger in our country.
The USDA oversees essential programs that directly impact children’s access to healthy food, and the Secretary of Agriculture plays a critical role in leading these efforts. This position is not just about farming and agriculture; it’s about shaping the policies and systems that can help end hunger for millions of children across the country.
Here are just a few of the programs the new Secretary of Agriculture will oversee:
SNAP
SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is one of our nation's most powerful tools to end hunger, helping kids grow up healthy, educated and more likely to break the cycle of poverty.
School Meals
School meals ensure that kids get the consistent nutrition they need throughout the school week. Meals like school breakfast and lunch play a vital role in a child's ability to learn and focus in the classroom.
Summer Meals
Summer has long been considered one of the hungriest times of the year for kids when school meals are no longer available. And while the national summer meals program is vital in bridging this gap, additional programs are now available to reach even more eligible kids – Summer EBT grocery benefits and rural non-congregate meals. With these programs working alongside traditional summer meals, we’re finally beginning to turn the page on summer hunger.
WIC
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program provides crucial benefits to pregnant women, new mothers, and young children during a critical time of growth and development, ensuring that they get proper nutrition and access to other vital resources.
Each of these programs plays an important role in keeping children fed and healthy, and Secretary Rollins' leadership is essential in making sure these programs work efficiently, reach those in need and adapt to meet the changing needs of communities.
The Role of the Secretary of Agriculture
As the head of UDSA, the Secretary of Agriculture has the power to shape food policy at the national level and be a driving force in the fight against childhood hunger. Secretary Rollins has an important opportunity to be an advocate for the millions of children who are eligible for the programs administered by USDA, ensuring that programs like SNAP, WIC and school and summer meals are reaching every eligible child.
As we look to the future, it's more important than ever to ensure that our nation's leaders prioritize child nutrition. Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, well-nourished and ready to learn. By strengthening and protecting programs like those overseen by USDA, we can make sure no child in America faces hunger.
We are committed to working with Secretary Rollins and the team at USDA to ensure every child has the food they need to succeed.
