Jim Weill: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for speaking at the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference last week. Increasingly, this conference is attracting not just anti-hunger advocates, but health and nutrition advocates and experts. Do you see these groups working together more in other contexts to improve the well-being of low-income Americans?
Secretary Vilsack: Absolutely, and it makes sense. The reality of the concerns and challenges faced by low-income Americans impacted by hunger and poverty affects not just their wallets, not just their bottom line. The impact of poverty is felt in terms of educational attainment and in terms of access to quality food. The failure to have access to safe, affordable nutritious food can have a negative impact on health outcomes for children and adults. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense for anti-poverty advocates and health care professionals, and those involved in educating our young people and those engaged in child care, to be working collaboratively to make sure the whole child, the whole person, the whole family is addressed and advocated for. Hopefully, these types of partnerships will continue to grow.
