#iv

It is our moral obligation to give every child the very best education possible. ↗

— Desmond Tutu

#child #education #every #give #moral

Although they are some of the hardest working folks I know, rural Americans earn, on average, $11,000 less than their urban counterparts each year. And they are more likely to live in poverty. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#average #counterparts #each #earn #folks

Every dollar of SNAP benefits generates $1.84 in the economy in terms of economic activity. If people are able to buy a little more in the grocery store, someone has to stock it, package it, shelve it, process it, ship it. All of those are jobs. It's the most direct stimulus you can get in the economy during these tough times. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#activity #benefits #buy #direct #dollar

Food during my early years was a very difficult issue for me. I grew up in an addictive family. My mother had serious problems with alcohol and prescription drugs. I was an overweight kid. I can remember back in those days there weren't the strategies that there are today to deal with those issues. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#alcohol #back #days #deal #difficult

Food is a fairly significant aspect of my life. I have struggled mightily with food. With my weight. And I'm conscious of it. So I have a sensitivity to people who struggle with their weight. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#conscious #fairly #food #i #life

I wish I could give you all the examples over the last two years as secretary of agriculture, where I hear people in rural America constantly being criticized, without any expression of appreciation for what they do do. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#america #any #appreciation #being #constantly

It is critical to develop a biofuel industry powered by feedstocks produced in every corner of the country, in addition to the Midwest. That is why USDA has established five regional research centers working on science necessary to ensure profitable biofuels can be produced from a diverse range of feedstocks. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#centers #corner #country #critical #develop

People don't understand rural America. Sixteen percent of our population is rural, but 40 percent of our military is rural. I don't believe that's because of a lack of opportunity in rural America. I believe that's because if you grow up in rural America, you know you can't just keep taking from the land. You've got to give something back. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#back #because #believe #give #got

Proper school nutrition must be complemented by activities outside of the cafeteria. The decisions parents make to keep their kids healthy are critical in fighting this battle on the home front. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#battle #complemented #critical #decisions #fighting

Sixteen percent of our population is rural, but 40 percent of our military is rural. I don't believe that's because of a lack of opportunity in rural America. I believe that's because if you grow up in rural America, you know you can't just keep taking from the land. You've got to give something back. ↗

— Tom Vilsack

#back #because #believe #give #got