Statement from Randi Weingarten,
President, American Federation of Teachers,
On Selection of Former Gov. Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture

WASHINGTON—It may seem unusual for the American Federation of Teachers to comment on a selection for agriculture secretary, but we have had the unique opportunity to get to know and work closely with former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, and have come to admire his deep commitment to our nation’s children and to public service.

As secretary of agriculture, he will oversee school lunch and child nutrition programs. These programs are vital to the health and academic performance of schoolchildren, and, when done well, contribute to an improved learning environment for all students.

Former Gov. Vilsack served as co-chair of the advisory board of the AFT Innovation Fund, our philanthropic foundation that supports collaborative reform efforts in public schools. While we will miss having him in that role, we commend President-elect Barack Obama for making a fine selection for secretary of agriculture. The AFT looks forward to continuing our working relationship with former Gov. Vilsack.

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