The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) congratulates Tom Vilsack on his confirmation to be the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (USDA).
USDA plays a critical role in the lives of many people with disabilities, students, and low-income families across the nation through its administration of crucially important nutrition assistance programs. NDRN looks forward to Secretary Vilsack aggressively promoting these crucial nutrition assistance programs to address food insecurity across America. COVID-19 presents a particular set of challenges for both USDA and nutrition assistance beneficiaries and NDRN hopes to work in a collaborative manner with Secretary Vilsack on this critical issue.
“Secretary Vilsack comes to the department having previously led USDA during the Obama Administration and I am confident that he will draw from that experience to ensure assistance reaches those who need it,” said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker. “Economic hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic still burdens millions of people and I can think of no better time than now for USDA to proactively work to address hunger as the pandemic continues to remain with us” continued Decker.
NDRN, Protection and Advocacy (P&As) agencies, and many of NDRN’s allies have long been advocating for desperately needed expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot, and the Child Nutrition Programs in order to more effectively serve those who needed assistance, including the millions of people with disabilities that utilize nutrition assistance. NDRN and the P&A Network will continue to work for the expansion and preservation of these programs in collaboration with USDA.
# # #
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
