PHILADELPHIA, PA-  U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz will join U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and U.S. Representatives Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and Robert Brady (D-PA) to hold a press conference TODAY, October 27th, 2008 to express their disappointment that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has decided to terminate an important school meal pilot program in the School District of Philadelphia and announce potential steps to restore the program.

The Universal Feeding pilot program provides free and reduced-cost meals to school children that would otherwise go hungry.  Rep. Schwartz, Senators Casey and Specter, Mayor Nutter and Reps. Fattah, and Brady will be joined by Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools for the School District of Philadelphia and Vonda Fekete, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Who:   U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz
            U.S. Senator Arlen Specter
            U.S. Senator Bob Casey 
            Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
            U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah
            U.S. Representative Robert Brady
            Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, Ed.D.- Superintendent of Schools for the School District of Philadelphia
           Vonda Fekete- State Director of Child Nutrition Programs at the Pennsylvania Department of Education
 
What: Press Conference on termination of Universal Feeding pilot program

Where: Laura Waring Elementary School
             Room 306 (School Library)
             1801 Green St
             Philadelphia, PA 19130
                       
When:  TODAY, October 27th, 12:00 pm

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