Tom Vilsack

We need to be focused on bilateral and multi-lateral trade opportunities, and we frankly need to be--within USDA we need to be very focused on breaking down barriers.

One report recently found that as many as 75 percent of Americans age 17 to 24 are currently unfit for the Armed Services due mainly to malnutrition and obesity.

I have introduced a Children's Fruit and Vegetable Act, H.R. 4333. We have bipartisan cosponsors.

We really need to try to get back into that old school-based ability to have fresh fruits and vegetables in every school.

This is a lot harder than it ought to be.

I really do think we can find some savings in administrative costs by just being smarter about how we deliver all these programs at two levels, at the community level and school program.

I just know that you got to have a number or a process or both, which your legislation does.

I also think that there are other areas such as animal identification program where we can find ways to prevent wasteful spending and make substantive cuts that will save the American people some money.

We have the ability to bring fresh fruits and vegetables anywhere in the world with the incredible transportation and distribution system we have.

We think a limited extension is appropriate given the fact that we are still dealing with a fairly high unemployment level.

We want to fill these positions as quickly as we possibly can.

It is vitally important that we fund nutrition assistance to the fullest of our ability, especially in these times.

We understand and appreciate the importance and significance of this and of this industry to your district and to the country.

The present low milk prices are destroying dairy farmers.

forest restoration represents the Forest Service's future

Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke of the need for a 'shared vision built on collaboration that will move us beyond the timber wars of the past.'

The President, the First Lady, and I are committed to combating hunger and providing healthier foods to our nation's children.

I view this as an important downpayment on the priorities mentioned above.

These grim statistics add a note of seriousness to these hearings that we hold today.

The scale of these programs means that reforms can have a major impact on tens of millions of school children.

One of the great opportunities that we have is the leadership of the First Lady on this particular issue.

The Obama administration takes this opportunity very seriously.

You fund your priorities. I believe this ought to be a priority.

We have still youngsters today that don't participate in the School Lunch and School Breakfast Program that need the School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.

One of the first items that President Obama discussed with me when I was first selected for this job was that one of his top priorities for USDA was to provide children with healthier, more nutritious meals.