On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, bipartisan legislation that supports the health, development, and education of our young people by giving students, parents, and food service providers the simplicity, flexibility, and choice in milk options needed for nutritious meals.
Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) made the following statement on the House Floor ahead of the bill’s passage:
“Passing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act would be a critical step towards empowering parents and securing our children’s well-being. Whole milk isn’t just a beverage; it’s a vital source of nutrients essential for children’s growth. Denying access to its calcium, vitamin D, and protein threatens to inhibit their development. To the anti-milk advocates, I have one thing to ask of you. What do you have against milk? If you scrutinize them closely enough, you might be convinced that Democrats are waging a war on dairy. The Democrat administration has presided over a 15 percent milk price increase in the grocery store. A Democrat proposal, the Green New Deal, calls for the elimination of cows for their so-called greenhouse gas emissions. A Democrat policy is slashing the milk available to newborns—through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—by four quarts. A Democrat interest group, PETA, has called milk a so-called ‘white supremacist’ symbol. How patently absurd! Let’s end the war on milk. Pass the bill! Together, we can ensure that our children have access to the nutritional foundation they need to thrive and become the healthy, vibrant leaders of tomorrow.”
“Milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, offering 13 essential nutrients and numerous health benefits. However, out-of-touch and outdated federal regulations have imposed restrictions on the types of milk students have access to in school meals,” said House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson. “I am pleased to see my bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act pass out of the United States House of Representatives, and I ultimately look forward to restoring access to these nutritious beverages in schools across the country.”
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act:
• Corrects a misguided decision to restrict milk choice in school meals by giving schools the option to serve all types of milk, including whole and 2 percent.
• Gives school food service providers simplicity, flexibility, and choice in milk options so they can easily craft nutritious lunches students will enjoy.
• Honors parental and student choice to round out a nutritious lunch with a popular, palatable beverage.
