Obama's Pot-Smoking Detailed
Juror Flirting With John Edwards
The legislation will provide that extra money -- amounting to a pledge of $4.5 billion over 10 years -- among other provisions, such as an extension of national nutritional standards to school foods sold outside cafeterias in places like vending machines and school stores.
Paul Sakuma, AP
Fairmeadow Elementary School fourth-grade Juliet Lee, left, gets pepperoni pizza during a school lunch program in Palo Alto, Calif., on Dec. 2. More children would eat lunches and dinners at school under legislation signed today that will also cut down on greasy foods.
The bill is technically a re-authorization of the federal program that provides free meals to students in need. But the 6-cent-per-meal increase is the first real increase in funding in over 30 years. The act will be funded through cuts to the food stamp program, though Obama has said he will work with Congress to reinstate that money.
The legislation will also increase the number of kids in the school meals program. Currently, more than 31 million students get lunch from the government's school lunch program, and 12 million also eat school breakfasts.
In February, the first lady launched a healthy-eating initiative called "Let's Move" to respond to startling obesity statistics in American children, one third of whom are considered obese or overweight. The Army estimates that 27 percent of Americans age 17 to 24 are too heavy to join the military. Let's Move aims to solve the child obesity epidemic within a generation.
On the other hand, there are also more than 17 million kids who are considered hungry by the government.
"Child hunger and child obesity are really just two sides of the same coin," the first lady said. "Both rob our children of the energy, the strength and the stamina they need to succeed in school."
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed unanimously in the Senate in August. It passed the House by a vote of 264-157 earlier this month.
Romney Argues Big Spending Cuts Would Cause 'Depression,' Contrary To Tea Party Activists
More Trouble For Rick Scott
A New Murdoch Scandal Emerges
Joe Biden Recalls Thoughts Of Suicide
Scott Walker Recall Race May Be Tightening
The Story Behind Clinton's Porn Star Picture
JPMorgan Risk Committee Missing People With Experience Monitoring Risk
Classic Politico: 'Surely, All Of This Could Prove To Be Ephemeral And Meaningless'
GOP Congressional Candidate Accuses Opponent Of Spying On Campaign
Geologists Confirm Possible Jesus Crucifixion Date
Kentucky Derby Winner's Trainer SUSPENDED
Tom Coburn Gets Big Penalty From Fellow Senators
Police: Gunman Holding Hostages In Indiana Realty Office
WATCH: Meghan McCain Lashes Out At Republicans
Arianna Huffington: The Inspirationals: Jeff Skoll, Doubling Down on the Things That Work
Apple Yanks Popular App From iTunes
2012 Race Will Break Record By A Long Shot
Judge Hits 'Moral Condemnation' Of Anti-Gay Marriage Law
Man Who Confessed To Etan Patz Murder Expected In Court
American Airlines Passenger Arrested For Trying To Storm Cockpit
Berlusconi 'Bunga Bunga' Girl Says She Dressed As Obama
What Bin Laden's Wives Revealed
