Equality for Hungry Kids: The Importance of Maintaining National, Uniform, Minimum Standards of Eligibility and Nutrition for Child Nutrition Programs

Edward M. Cooney served as the Congressional Hunger Center’s (CHC) Executive Director from February 5, 2001 to September 8, 2015. Prior to joining CHC, Ed was an anti hunger advocate at the Food Research and Action Center and Connecticut Legal Services. From September 1997 to January 2001, Ed held two senior positions at the United States Department of Agriculture as Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Programs and Special Assistant for Nutrition to USDA Secretary Dan Glickman. Ed was a member of USDA’s Senior Executive Service, the government’s top management team. As an advocate or nutrition program administrator, Ed worked with allied groups on every major children nutrition and Food Stamp (SNAP) bill since 1977. Ed received the Gene White Lifetime Achievement Award for Child Nutrition from the Global Child Nutrition Association and the School Nutrition Association in 2008. Ed received a BA degree in History from the College of the Holy Cross and a JD degree from the University of Connecticut Law School.