President Truman signs National School Lunch Act

President Truman, seated, signed the National School Lunch Act, which authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assume half the expenses for school lunches in any state assuming the other half. Thus, for the first time, this program, which has run for 11 years on a year-to-year basis with no financial participation by the states, becomes a permanent part of the Department's activities. Standing left to right: Clinton P. Anderson, Secretary of Agriculture; Rep. Malcolm C. Tarver, Georgia, member of House Appropriations Committee; Sen. Richard B. Russell, Georgia, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee; Sen. Allen Ellender, Louisiana, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee; Rep. Clifford R. Hope, Kansas, member of the House Agriculture Committee; Sen. George D. Aiken, Vermont, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee; Rep. John W. Flannagan, Virginia, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Donor: Dorothy Girton.