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McCollum Joins U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary on a Day of Site Visits in St. Paul

March 27, 2013

St. Paul, MN – On Tuesday, March 26th, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) joined United States Department of Agriculture Undersecretary, Kevin Concannon, on a day of visits highlighting the National School Lunch Program, local Farm-to-School initiatives, and anti-hunger efforts in the region. The Undersecretary and Congresswoman McCollum stopped at the Saint Paul Public Schools Nutrition Center, joined students at Crossroads Elementary School for school lunch, and toured the Neighborhood House at the Wellstone Center. Culminating the day’s visit, Undersecretary Concannon and Congresswoman McCollum participated in an informal roundtable discussion with community leaders on the effects of hunger in our region.

Congresswoman McCollum is an advocate of domestic and international hunger solutions, sponsoring legislation to make sure that food support programs are available and funded. In Saint Paul, alone, over 70% of the public school’s student population qualifies for free and reduced lunch. In the 111th Congress, Congresswoman McCollum introduced the National Farm to School Act of 2010, authorizing USDA to create a competitive matching grant program to implement Farm to School initiatives and linking school districts to local farmers.

USDA Undersecretary Concannon is responsible for overseeing national USDA nutrition programs—including national School Lunch Programs and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The Undersecretary spent two days in Minnesota, meeting with local partners and highlighting the need to improve the health of our nation’s children.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations Committee.

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