English subtitles for clip: File:Signing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.webm

1
00:00:00,734 --> 00:00:02,034
The President:
Good morning, everybody.

2
00:00:02,033 --> 00:00:03,703
Audience:
Good morning.

3
00:00:03,700 --> 00:00:06,630
The President:
Well, I want to
thank all the students

4
00:00:06,633 --> 00:00:11,103
and faculty and staff here at
Tubman Elementary for hosting us

5
00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:13,030
today at your beautiful school.

6
00:00:13,033 --> 00:00:17,333
And we want to thank Principal
Harry Hughes for doing

7
00:00:17,333 --> 00:00:18,263
outstanding work here.

8
00:00:18,266 --> 00:00:20,366
Thank you -- give them
all a big round of applause.

9
00:00:20,367 --> 00:00:31,167
(applause)

10
00:00:31,166 --> 00:00:33,396
We are thrilled to be
here with all of

11
00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,300
you as I sign the Healthy,
Hungry-Free Kids Act -- a bill

12
00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:43,230
that's vitally important to the
health and welfare of our kids

13
00:00:43,233 --> 00:00:45,033
and to our country.

14
00:00:45,033 --> 00:00:48,703
But before I do this, I just
want to acknowledge a few of the

15
00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:52,870
folks who are here, as well as
a few who are not here but who

16
00:00:52,867 --> 00:00:54,697
played a hugely
important role in getting

17
00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:56,570
this legislation passed.

18
00:00:56,567 --> 00:01:01,237
On the stage we have
Madam Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

19
00:01:01,233 --> 00:01:09,503
(applause)

20
00:01:09,500 --> 00:01:13,170
Two outstanding
senators, Blanche Lincoln and

21
00:01:13,166 --> 00:01:15,596
Tom Harkin, who worked
so hard to get this done.

22
00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:23,170
(applause)

23
00:01:23,166 --> 00:01:25,536
Members of the House of Representatives Miller,

24
00:01:25,533 --> 00:01:28,203
DeLauro and Platts who all
worked so hard to

25
00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:29,130
make this happen.

26
00:01:29,133 --> 00:01:30,733
(applause)

27
00:01:30,734 --> 00:01:37,104
We're grateful to you.

28
00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:41,600
And three of my outstanding
members of my Cabinet who worked

29
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,700
tirelessly on this issue,
Secretary of Agriculture

30
00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:49,870
Tom Vilsack -- it happens to
be his birthday today.

31
00:01:49,867 --> 00:01:50,037
Happy birthday.

32
00:01:50,033 --> 00:01:55,603
(applause)

33
00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,330
Secretary Arne Duncan, our
great Secretary of Education.

34
00:01:59,333 --> 00:02:03,603
(applause)

35
00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:06,630
And Secretary
Kathleen Sebelius of

36
00:02:06,633 --> 00:02:07,833
Health and
Human Services.

37
00:02:07,834 --> 00:02:14,464
(applause)

38
00:02:14,467 --> 00:02:16,167
They couldn't be here today
but they played a

39
00:02:16,166 --> 00:02:19,266
huge role in making this happen
-- Senator Harry Reid, the

40
00:02:19,266 --> 00:02:23,696
Majority Leader in the Senate;
Senator Mike McConnell,[sic]

41
00:02:23,700 --> 00:02:27,130
the ranking Republican who
helped facilitate the smooth

42
00:02:27,133 --> 00:02:32,403
passage of this bill; Senator
Chambliss, who was the lead

43
00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,000
Republican; Representatives Hoyer,Clyburn and McCarthy all

44
00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,970
played important roles, and so
we're very grateful to them.

45
00:02:39,967 --> 00:02:40,937
Give them a big
round of applause.

46
00:02:40,934 --> 00:02:47,104
(applause)

47
00:02:47,100 --> 00:02:50,030
It is worth
noting that this bill passed

48
00:02:50,033 --> 00:02:54,003
with bipartisan support in
both houses of Congress.

49
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:57,270
That hasn't happened as often
as we'd like over the last

50
00:02:57,266 --> 00:02:59,696
couple of years, but I think
it says something

51
00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:02,670
about our politics.

52
00:03:02,667 --> 00:03:06,237
It reminds us that no matter
what people may hear about how

53
00:03:06,233 --> 00:03:09,003
divided things are in
Washington, we can still come

54
00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,930
together and agree on issues
that matter for our children's

55
00:03:11,934 --> 00:03:15,364
future and for our
future as a nation.

56
00:03:15,367 --> 00:03:18,467
And that's really
what today is all about.

57
00:03:18,467 --> 00:03:22,767
At a very basic level,
this act is about doing what's

58
00:03:22,767 --> 00:03:25,137
right for our children.

59
00:03:25,133 --> 00:03:29,563
Right now, across the country,
too many kids don't have access

60
00:03:29,567 --> 00:03:31,197
to school meals.

61
00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,030
And often, the food that's
being offered isn't as healthy

62
00:03:34,033 --> 00:03:36,763
or as nutritious
as it should be.

63
00:03:36,767 --> 00:03:40,367
That's part of the reason why
one in three children in America

64
00:03:40,367 --> 00:03:43,837
today are either
overweight or obese.

65
00:03:43,834 --> 00:03:45,634
And we're seeing this
problem in every part of the

66
00:03:45,633 --> 00:03:48,763
country in kids from all
different backgrounds and all

67
00:03:48,767 --> 00:03:50,997
walks of life.

68
00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,830
As a result, doctors are now
starting to see conditions like

69
00:03:54,834 --> 00:03:59,704
high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and Type II diabetes

70
00:03:59,700 --> 00:04:02,500
in children -- these are things
that they only used

71
00:04:02,500 --> 00:04:04,570
to see in adults.

72
00:04:04,567 --> 00:04:06,867
And this bill is about
reversing that trend and giving

73
00:04:06,867 --> 00:04:10,397
our kids the healthy
futures that they deserve.

74
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:12,670
And this bill is also
about doing what's right for our

75
00:04:12,667 --> 00:04:16,497
country, because we feel
the strains that treating

76
00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:20,700
obesity-related health
conditions puts on our economy.

77
00:04:20,700 --> 00:04:23,070
We've seen the connection
between what our kids eat and

78
00:04:23,066 --> 00:04:25,366
how well they perform in school.

79
00:04:25,367 --> 00:04:28,137
And we know that the countries
that succeed in the 21st century

80
00:04:28,133 --> 00:04:30,233
will be the ones that
have the best-prepared,

81
00:04:30,233 --> 00:04:34,163
best-educated workforce around.

82
00:04:34,166 --> 00:04:36,536
So we need to make sure
our kids have the energy and the

83
00:04:36,533 --> 00:04:40,233
capacity to go toe to toe
with any of their peers,

84
00:04:40,233 --> 00:04:41,763
anywhere in the world.

85
00:04:41,767 --> 00:04:43,167
And we need to make
sure that they're all

86
00:04:43,166 --> 00:04:44,436
reaching their potential.

87
00:04:44,433 --> 00:04:48,433
That's precisely what this
bill -- the Healthy, Hungry-Free

88
00:04:48,433 --> 00:04:51,103
Kids Act -- will accomplish.

89
00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:55,200
This legislation will help
115,000 children gain access to

90
00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,230
school meal programs.

91
00:04:57,233 --> 00:04:59,903
And wherever we can, we're
doing away with bureaucracy and

92
00:04:59,900 --> 00:05:03,030
red tape, so that families don't
have to fill out mountains of

93
00:05:03,033 --> 00:05:06,103
paperwork to get their kids
the nutrition they need.

94
00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:09,330
We're improving the
quality of those meals by

95
00:05:09,333 --> 00:05:12,433
reimbursing schools an
additional six cents per lunch

96
00:05:12,433 --> 00:05:15,663
to help them provide with
healthier options -- the first

97
00:05:15,667 --> 00:05:19,267
real increase, by the
way, in over 30 years.

98
00:05:19,266 --> 00:05:21,566
Because when our kids walk
into the lunchroom, we want to

99
00:05:21,567 --> 00:05:25,537
be sure that they're getting
balanced, nutritious meals that

100
00:05:25,533 --> 00:05:29,103
they need to succeed
in the classroom.

101
00:05:29,100 --> 00:05:31,530
We're empowering parents
by making information more

102
00:05:31,533 --> 00:05:34,433
available about the quality of
school meals -- helping families

103
00:05:34,433 --> 00:05:37,733
understand what their kids
are eating during the day.

104
00:05:37,734 --> 00:05:40,734
And to support our
schools' efforts to serve fresh

105
00:05:40,734 --> 00:05:43,234
fruits and vegetables,
we're connecting them

106
00:05:43,233 --> 00:05:45,233
with local farmers.

107
00:05:45,233 --> 00:05:48,503
We're also improving food
safety in schools, and boosting

108
00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:51,870
the quality of commodities like
cheese that schools get from the

109
00:05:51,867 --> 00:05:54,497
Department of Agriculture
and use in their lunch

110
00:05:54,500 --> 00:05:56,570
and breakfast programs.

111
00:05:56,567 --> 00:05:58,897
It's also important to
note that while this bill is

112
00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:03,570
fully paid for, it won't add a
dime to the deficit, some of the

113
00:06:03,567 --> 00:06:06,997
funding comes from rolling back
a temporary increase in food

114
00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,430
stamp benefits -- or SNAP as
it's now called -- starting in

115
00:06:10,433 --> 00:06:12,403
the fall of 2013.

116
00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,930
I know a number of members of
Congress have expressed concerns

117
00:06:14,934 --> 00:06:18,504
about this offset being included
in the bill, and I'm committed

118
00:06:18,500 --> 00:06:22,170
to working with them to restore
these funds in the future.

119
00:06:22,166 --> 00:06:26,636
We know that every day
across this country, parents are

120
00:06:26,633 --> 00:06:29,563
working as hard as they can to
make healthy choices

121
00:06:29,567 --> 00:06:30,937
for their kids.

122
00:06:30,934 --> 00:06:33,234
Schools are doing everything
possible to provide the

123
00:06:33,233 --> 00:06:35,663
nutritious food
they need to thrive.

124
00:06:35,667 --> 00:06:37,797
Communities are coming
together to help our young

125
00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,630
people lead healthier lives
right from the beginning.

126
00:06:41,633 --> 00:06:44,733
And it's time that we made
that work a little bit easier.

127
00:06:44,734 --> 00:06:46,304
So these folks
are fulfilling their

128
00:06:46,300 --> 00:06:48,100
responsibilities to our kids.

129
00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:51,200
This legislation helps
ensure that we fulfill our

130
00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,300
responsibilities as well.

131
00:06:53,300 --> 00:06:56,530
Shortly after signing the
first law establishing school

132
00:06:56,533 --> 00:07:01,163
lunches, Harry Truman said that
"Nothing is more important in

133
00:07:01,166 --> 00:07:03,936
our national life than the
welfare of our children, and

134
00:07:03,934 --> 00:07:08,104
proper nourishment comes first
in attaining this welfare."

135
00:07:08,100 --> 00:07:11,070
So today, I'm very proud
to sign this bill that

136
00:07:11,066 --> 00:07:12,896
continues that legacy.

137
00:07:12,900 --> 00:07:18,600
Not only am I very proud of
the bill, but had I not been

138
00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,300
able to get this passed, I
would be sleeping on the couch.

139
00:07:21,300 --> 00:07:24,130
(laughter and applause)

140
00:07:24,133 --> 00:07:32,233
So now I am -- now I am very

141
00:07:32,233 --> 00:07:37,233
proud to introduce somebody
who's done so much to shine a

142
00:07:37,233 --> 00:07:41,963
light on these critical issues
related to childhood nutrition

143
00:07:41,967 --> 00:07:47,167
and obesity and exercise:
America's First Lady,

144
00:07:47,166 --> 00:07:49,496
my First Lady, Michelle Obama.

145
00:07:49,500 --> 00:07:57,530
(applause)

146
00:07:57,533 --> 00:08:01,963
The First Lady:
Thank you.

147
00:08:01,967 --> 00:08:08,067
Thank you, everybody.

148
00:08:08,066 --> 00:08:12,236
Thank you all, thanks
so much, and good morning.

149
00:08:12,233 --> 00:08:13,463
Audience:
Good morning.

150
00:08:13,467 --> 00:08:14,897
The First Lady:
And thank
you, Mr. President --

151
00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:16,070
(laughter)

152
00:08:16,066 --> 00:08:18,036
-- for that very
kind introduction.

153
00:08:18,033 --> 00:08:21,863
And all kidding aside, my
husband worked very hard to make

154
00:08:21,867 --> 00:08:26,697
sure that this bill was a
priority in this session.

155
00:08:26,700 --> 00:08:29,500
And I am grateful to you.

156
00:08:29,500 --> 00:08:31,200
The President:
Because I would have been sleeping on the couch.

157
00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,300
(laughter)

158
00:08:33,300 --> 00:08:35,830
The First Lady:
But I am thrilled to be here --

159
00:08:35,834 --> 00:08:36,904
we won't go into that.

160
00:08:36,900 --> 00:08:38,030
(laughter)

161
00:08:38,033 --> 00:08:40,833
Let's just say it got done,
so we don't have to go

162
00:08:40,834 --> 00:08:42,204
down that road.

163
00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:42,900
(laughter)

164
00:08:42,900 --> 00:08:44,770
But I am thrilled to
be here with all of

165
00:08:44,767 --> 00:08:47,437
you today as my husband
signs the Healthy,

166
00:08:47,433 --> 00:08:50,803
Hunger-Free Kids Act into law.

167
00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:55,270
Now, usually, we hold these bill signings in the White House.

168
00:08:55,266 --> 00:08:59,236
But we felt it was important
to do this one right here at

169
00:08:59,233 --> 00:09:04,063
Tubman Elementary because we
wanted to share this moment with

170
00:09:04,066 --> 00:09:07,596
our partners -- with the
students, the parents, the

171
00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,930
teachers, the community leaders,
like all of you here, who have

172
00:09:11,934 --> 00:09:14,304
been so instrumental.

173
00:09:14,300 --> 00:09:17,870
Our White House chefs have
worked closely with educators at

174
00:09:17,867 --> 00:09:21,337
this school, and they've seen
your commitment to serving

175
00:09:21,333 --> 00:09:25,233
high-quality school meals
to all of your students.

176
00:09:25,233 --> 00:09:29,233
I've worked side by side with
kids from this school,

177
00:09:29,233 --> 00:09:32,433
as well as from
Bancroft Elementary School,

178
00:09:32,433 --> 00:09:34,233
to harvest our
White House garden.

179
00:09:34,233 --> 00:09:36,863
We couldn't have done it
without all our

180
00:09:36,867 --> 00:09:38,237
students helping us.

181
00:09:38,233 --> 00:09:42,263
And I saw how hard they
worked, and I also saw how brave

182
00:09:42,266 --> 00:09:45,496
they were to try vegetables that
many of them never even heard

183
00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:49,500
of, so -- (laughter) -- and I
also understand that there are

184
00:09:49,500 --> 00:09:52,570
students from Murch Elementary
School who are here today as

185
00:09:52,567 --> 00:09:57,167
well, and we all had just a
great time last spring working

186
00:09:57,166 --> 00:10:00,336
up a sweat and exercising
and playing on the

187
00:10:00,333 --> 00:10:02,633
South Lawn of the White House.

188
00:10:02,633 --> 00:10:05,603
So with everything that
all of you are doing to give

189
00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,900
these children a healthy start
in life, you are fulfilling the

190
00:10:10,900 --> 00:10:15,030
mission of this legislation
every single day.

191
00:10:15,033 --> 00:10:16,433
That's why we're here.

192
00:10:16,433 --> 00:10:20,463
So I want to thank you all,
all of our partners, for what

193
00:10:20,467 --> 00:10:25,537
you've done, not just in hosting
us here today but in making sure

194
00:10:25,533 --> 00:10:28,533
that we're doing the
right thing by our kids.

195
00:10:28,533 --> 00:10:31,663
I also want to echo my
husband's thanks to leaders and

196
00:10:31,667 --> 00:10:35,967
members of Congress, many of
whom are on the stage, many of

197
00:10:35,967 --> 00:10:40,267
whom are not and are down here,
and you all have done just a

198
00:10:40,266 --> 00:10:43,636
tremendous thing in
making this day possible.

199
00:10:43,633 --> 00:10:47,203
As he said, this was truly
a bipartisan effort, with

200
00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:51,030
passionate supporters from both
parties putting in late nights

201
00:10:51,033 --> 00:10:54,303
and long weekends, working
around the clock to make sure

202
00:10:54,300 --> 00:10:59,100
that this bill got passed,
because while we may sometimes

203
00:10:59,100 --> 00:11:03,830
have our differences, we can all
agree that in the United States

204
00:11:03,834 --> 00:11:09,264
of America, no child
should go to school hungry.

205
00:11:09,266 --> 00:11:20,166
We can all agree --
(applause) -- we can all agree

206
00:11:20,166 --> 00:11:24,596
that in the wealthiest nation on
Earth, all children should have

207
00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,770
the basic nutrition they need
to learn and grow and to pursue

208
00:11:28,767 --> 00:11:33,797
their dreams, because in the
end, nothing is more important

209
00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:37,530
than the health and well-being of our children. Nothing.

210
00:11:37,533 --> 00:11:41,203
And our hopes for their future
should drive every single

211
00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:43,670
decision that we make.

212
00:11:43,667 --> 00:11:47,567
These are the basic values
that we all share, regardless of

213
00:11:47,567 --> 00:11:50,297
race, party, religion.

214
00:11:50,300 --> 00:11:51,770
This is what we share.

215
00:11:51,767 --> 00:11:55,837
These are the values
that this bill embodies.

216
00:11:55,834 --> 00:11:59,534
And that's why we've seen such
a groundswell of support for

217
00:11:59,533 --> 00:12:03,333
these efforts -- not just from
members of Congress here in

218
00:12:03,333 --> 00:12:07,803
Washington, but from folks in
every corner of the country.

219
00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,770
It's been beautiful to see.

220
00:12:09,767 --> 00:12:12,897
From educators working to
provide healthier school meals,

221
00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:16,400
because they know the
connection between proper

222
00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,730
nutrition and
academic performance.

223
00:12:19,734 --> 00:12:23,464
From doctors and nurses
who know that unhealthy kids

224
00:12:23,467 --> 00:12:28,497
grow into unhealthy adults --
at risk for obesity-related

225
00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:32,370
diseases like diabetes,
heart disease, cancer.

226
00:12:32,367 --> 00:12:35,397
From business and labor
leaders who know that we spend

227
00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:41,430
nearly $150 billion a year to
treat these diseases and who

228
00:12:41,433 --> 00:12:45,263
worry about the
impact on our economy.

229
00:12:45,266 --> 00:12:48,266
From advocates and faith
leaders who know that school

230
00:12:48,266 --> 00:12:53,536
meals are vital for combating
hunger, feeding more than 31

231
00:12:53,533 --> 00:12:56,533
million children a day.

232
00:12:56,533 --> 00:13:00,963
And from military leaders
who tell us that when more than

233
00:13:00,967 --> 00:13:05,997
one in four young people are
unqualified for military service

234
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:10,000
because of their weight, they
tell us that childhood obesity

235
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,470
isn't just a public health
issue; they tell us that it is

236
00:13:13,467 --> 00:13:16,237
not just an economic
threat -- it is a

237
00:13:16,233 --> 00:13:19,833
national security
threat as well.

238
00:13:19,834 --> 00:13:22,534
Now, these folks come at
this issue from

239
00:13:22,533 --> 00:13:24,463
all different angles.

240
00:13:24,467 --> 00:13:28,137
But they've come together to
support this bill because they

241
00:13:28,133 --> 00:13:31,663
know it's the right
thing to do for our kids.

242
00:13:31,667 --> 00:13:35,367
And they know that in the long
run, it won't just save money,

243
00:13:35,367 --> 00:13:38,167
but it's going to save lives.

244
00:13:38,166 --> 00:13:41,796
And let's be clear: These
folks don't just support this

245
00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:45,570
bill as leaders
and as professionals,

246
00:13:45,567 --> 00:13:47,997
but as parents as well.

247
00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:52,400
And we know that ensuring that
kids eat right and stay active

248
00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:55,500
is ultimately the
responsibility of parents more

249
00:13:55,500 --> 00:13:57,300
than anyone else.

250
00:13:57,300 --> 00:14:00,500
And everywhere I go,
fortunately, I meet parents who

251
00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:03,170
are working very hard to
make sure that

252
00:14:03,166 --> 00:14:05,496
their kids are healthy.

253
00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:07,830
They're doing things like
cutting down on desserts and

254
00:14:07,834 --> 00:14:10,504
trying to increase
fruits and vegetables.

255
00:14:10,500 --> 00:14:13,700
They're trying to teach their
kids the kind of healthy habits

256
00:14:13,700 --> 00:14:17,100
that will stay with
them for a lifetime.

257
00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:21,470
But when our kids spend so
much of their time each day in

258
00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:25,167
school, and when many children
get up to half their daily

259
00:14:25,166 --> 00:14:31,566
calories from school meals, it's
clear that we as a nation have a

260
00:14:31,567 --> 00:14:34,497
responsibility to meet as well.

261
00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:37,030
We can't just leave
it up to the parents.

262
00:14:37,033 --> 00:14:40,263
I think that parents have
a right to expect that their

263
00:14:40,266 --> 00:14:45,966
efforts at home won't be undone
each day in the school cafeteria

264
00:14:45,967 --> 00:14:49,067
or in the vending
machine in the hallway.

265
00:14:49,066 --> 00:14:51,936
I think that our parents have
a right to expect that their

266
00:14:51,934 --> 00:14:55,564
kids will be served fresh,
healthy food that meets

267
00:14:55,567 --> 00:14:58,167
high nutritional standards.

268
00:14:58,166 --> 00:15:01,336
And particularly in these
tough economic times, when so

269
00:15:01,333 --> 00:15:04,903
many families are struggling,
when school meals sometimes are

270
00:15:04,900 --> 00:15:10,230
the main source of nourishment
for so many kids, we have an

271
00:15:10,233 --> 00:15:14,303
obligation to make sure that
those meals are as

272
00:15:14,300 --> 00:15:16,730
nutritious as possible.

273
00:15:16,734 --> 00:15:19,334
But by improving the
quality of school meals -- and

274
00:15:19,333 --> 00:15:23,463
making sure that more children
have access to them -- that is

275
00:15:23,467 --> 00:15:27,237
precisely what the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act

276
00:15:27,233 --> 00:15:28,533
is going to do.

277
00:15:28,533 --> 00:15:32,063
Because while it might seem
counterintuitive, child hunger

278
00:15:32,066 --> 00:15:37,166
and child obesity are really
just two sides of the same coin.

279
00:15:37,166 --> 00:15:40,596
Both rob our children of the
energy, the strength and the

280
00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:45,170
stamina they need to succeed
in school and in life.

281
00:15:45,166 --> 00:15:48,566
And that, in turn, robs our
country of so much

282
00:15:48,567 --> 00:15:50,237
of their promise.

283
00:15:50,233 --> 00:15:54,003
Both, though, can be
solved when we come together to

284
00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,930
provide our children with the
nutritious food that

285
00:15:56,934 --> 00:15:58,764
they need and deserve.

286
00:15:58,767 --> 00:16:02,467
That's why for well over half
a century, we've made child

287
00:16:02,467 --> 00:16:05,637
nutrition a national priority.

288
00:16:05,633 --> 00:16:09,163
The bill we're signing
into law today actually has its

289
00:16:09,166 --> 00:16:13,536
roots in the National School
Lunch program signed into law by

290
00:16:13,533 --> 00:16:17,033
President Truman
after World War II.

291
00:16:17,033 --> 00:16:20,333
And it also has roots in the
Child Nutrition Act that was

292
00:16:20,333 --> 00:16:25,563
passed just two decades
after that in 1966.

293
00:16:25,567 --> 00:16:28,867
Now, the idea for that act
came from a priest

294
00:16:28,867 --> 00:16:30,367
named Revered C.B. Woodrich,

295
00:16:30,367 --> 00:16:32,997
who worked with
children in Denver, Colorado.

296
00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:34,870
Many of these kids were
going hungry because they

297
00:16:34,867 --> 00:16:36,797
couldn't afford to buy lunch.

298
00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,570
Reverend Woodrich thought
that was unconscionable, and he

299
00:16:40,567 --> 00:16:42,597
decided to do
something about it.

300
00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,600
So he somehow managed to talk
his way into a meeting

301
00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:47,400
with President Johnson.

302
00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,130
He arrived at the Oval Office
without any kind of report or

303
00:16:50,133 --> 00:16:52,803
presentation or speech.

304
00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,470
Instead, he simply brought an
enormous album filled with the

305
00:16:56,467 --> 00:17:00,697
photos of children in need,
which he promptly spread across

306
00:17:00,700 --> 00:17:03,130
the President's desk.

307
00:17:03,133 --> 00:17:06,633
The Reverend, he wanted --
later explained that the size of

308
00:17:06,633 --> 00:17:10,203
the photo album was deliberate,
because he wanted to be sure

309
00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,130
that it would be big enough to
cover up everything else

310
00:17:13,133 --> 00:17:15,363
on the President's desk.

311
00:17:15,367 --> 00:17:17,097
And that's hard to do.
It's a big desk.

312
00:17:17,100 --> 00:17:18,170
(laughter)

313
00:17:18,166 --> 00:17:21,836
It is to this day a moving reminder that the

314
00:17:21,834 --> 00:17:26,334
most important job of any
President is to ensure the

315
00:17:26,333 --> 00:17:30,433
well-being of our nation's
children, because we know that

316
00:17:30,433 --> 00:17:34,503
the success of our nation
tomorrow depends on the choices

317
00:17:34,500 --> 00:17:36,930
we make for our kids today.

318
00:17:36,934 --> 00:17:39,804
It depends on whether they can
fulfill every last bit of their

319
00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:43,930
potential, and we, in turn, can
benefit from every

320
00:17:43,934 --> 00:17:45,604
last bit of their promise.

321
00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,170
That is our obligation,
not just as parents who love our

322
00:17:49,166 --> 00:17:53,296
kids but as citizens
who love this country.

323
00:17:53,300 --> 00:17:57,170
That's the mission of this
legislation -- to give all of

324
00:17:57,166 --> 00:18:00,696
our children the bright
futures that they deserve.

325
00:18:00,700 --> 00:18:03,330
And that is why I am
so proud to be here.

326
00:18:03,333 --> 00:18:06,833
I am so proud to have worked
on this bill with all of you,

327
00:18:06,834 --> 00:18:11,834
and now I am pleased to stop
talking and turn this over to my

328
00:18:11,834 --> 00:18:15,334
husband so that he can get
to work signing that bill.

329
00:18:15,333 --> 00:18:16,603
The President:
Let's go sign this bill.

330
00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:17,470
The First Lady:
Let's go do it.

331
00:18:17,467 --> 00:18:56,367
(applause)

332
00:18:56,367 --> 00:19:38,167
(The bill is signed.)

333
00:19:38,166 --> 00:19:56,196
(applause)