"We have got to be honest with ourselves and honest what that really means."
"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..."
"The upcoming effort to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Program is a major opportunity for us to advance a number of key priorities for our children."
"The Obama administration takes this opportunity very seriously."
"The scale of these programs means that reforms can have a major impact on tens of millions of school children."
"The problems that we face and are challenged today to address through this reauthorization process are significant and critical to the future of this country."
"I view this as an important downpayment on the priorities mentioned above."
"The President, the First Lady, and I are committed to combating hunger and providing healthier foods to our nation's children."
"I think it is incumbent upon us to work with schools to create standards that basically define the nutritional value of things that will be sold."
"I will tell you, just from a USDA perspective, we are encouraged by the number of grants, loans, business activity in our rural development portfolios."
"Fortunately, the Congress had the wisdom to include in the Recovery and Reinvestment Act more resources for SNAP, more resources for food assistance."
"This isn't just about human services. It isn't just about the moral responsibility we have. It is actually good economics in tough times."