The Senate unanimously passed this bill. Unanimously. I think I understand why, because they understood what I hope we understand today is the choice that is in front of the country. You can understand that choice by thinking about where two Americans are at this moment. One of them is a second grader who just went through her paces and classes for the morning. It's now time for lunch. This bill says no matter how much money her mother and father make, she is going to get a nutritious, wholesome meal to fuel her for the rest of the day. And, yes, that is going to cost $4 billion, which is offset by cuts in other areas of the budget. The second American is the leader of a huge hedge fund on Wall Street. He is on his way to lunch at the priciest restaurant in Manhattan, maybe a $200 or $300 lunch. One of the other issues before the Congress this week is whether he should get a tax cut that over the years will cost a dollar for every penny that this bill costs. I don't begrudge the hedge fund manager for the wealth he's accumulated, the jobs he's created. I don't think we should borrow money from the Chinese to lower his taxes; but I think, as the unanimous consent of the Senate thought, that that second grader should get a wholesome, healthy school lunch, and we should vote 'yes.'
Editor's note · Context
The speaker discusses the importance of providing nutritious meals for children in the context of budget decisions.
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