Understanding Childhood Hunger

Child Nutrition Reauthorization 2010

August 10 - Share Our Strength® Statement on U.S. Senate Passage of the Child Nutrition Act


On August 5, the U.S. Senate passed a new bill designed to reduce childhood hunger and help schools improve the nutritional quality of the meals they provide.

We applaud that the $4.5 billion Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act increases the number of low-income children who will be eligible for free or reduced-cost meals as this provision will connect more children in need with access to healthy meals. We also support the focus on improved standards for all foods in schools, including items sold in vending machines, to provide children healthier options.

The Senate, however, erred when it decided to pay for the bill by cutting funding to the food stamp program (now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP). This program is a vital nutrition assistance mechanism that millions of families rely on each year, and the Senate's version of the bill would cut it by $1.3 billion, effective in 2013.

Read the entire statement »

America's Leading Chefs Cook on Capitol Hill to Push for Child Nutrition Reauthorization and End to Childhood Hunger in America

Chef Mary Sue Milliken with participating chefsOn Thursday, June 10, 2010, a group of prominent chefs from across the country met with Congressmen and Senators from their Districts to push for the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition bill.  Reauthorization of the bill is crucial to providing nutritious meals to children who need them. Nearly one in four children in America struggle with hunger--the highest rate in the past 15 years.

Later in the evening, at the Rayburn House Office Building, the chefs served hors d'oeuvres to members of Congress in a meet and greet reception hosted by Share Our Strength, Feeding America, Bread for the World and the Alliance to End Hunger.

Ambassador Tony Hall and Share Our Strength Founder and Executive Director Billy Shore introduced the chefs to Honorary Representative Jim McGovern (MA-3), Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-8), Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY-4) and Senator Gillibrand (NY) who each took a moment to speak about the importance of the Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill.

Representative Jim McGovern at the Tasting event
"This is a moment in history."  - Representative Jim McGovern

Chefs attending included:

  • Christopher Albrecht, Eno Terra, Princeton, NJ
  • Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
  • Zach Bell, Café Boulud, Palm Beach, FL
  • Bill Brady, Sonoma Restaurant, Worcester, MA
  • RJ Cooper, Vidalia, Washington, DC
  • Michelle Gayer, The Salty Tart, Minneapolis, MN
  • David Guas, Damgoodsweet, McLean, VA
  • Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta, GA
  • Mary Sue Milliken, Border Grill, Santa Monica, CA
  • Will Mooney, The Brothers Moon, Princeton, NJ
  • Charles Phan, The Slanted Door, San Francisco, CA
  • Bill Telepan, Telepan Restaurant, New York City
  • Ana Villalobos, Diablo, CA
  • Jonathan Waxman,Barbuto, New York City
Share Our Strength's Billy Shore and Chef Mary Sue Milliken
Chef Jonathan Waxman, Representative Carolyn McCarthy and Chef Bill Telepan

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