Vilsack Extends National School Lunch Program

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the wait for the most part is over now:

"I certainly understand that schools are waiting to know precisely how the system's going to work during the next school year."

Schools will be allowed to serve meals under the National School Lunch "Seamless Summer" option this fall, and throughout the next school year until the end of June. This, among other things, will allow schools keep serving free meals to all students. Meals that follow the nutrition standards of the normal school lunch programs. Vilsack said schools will get higher reimbursement for those meals.

"If nutrition is a priority, then we need to provide the resources to school districts to provide healthy nutritious meals. it ought to be a priority and frankly I think it's cost effective if we do this."

Saving billions, Vilsack noted, in health care costs later on when students become adults. 

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