[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 107 (Wednesday, June 28, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9322-S9323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to bring to your attention that June 
is National Dairy Month.
  Earlier this month I was in Vermont during the Enosburg Falls Dairy 
Festival in Franklin County, VT, home of some of the finest dairy farms 
and dairy products in America.
  June 1, 1995, was Dairy Day in Montpelier, the State capital. There 
was a grand celebration with cows on the State house lawn and a milking 
contest. It was the first chance for Vermont's new agriculture 
commissioner, Leon Graves, a dairy farmer himself, to show his 
expertise. And while the celebration is light hearted and fun, there is 
a serious side to it.
  In Vermont we stop and take the time to celebrate the importance of 
dairy farmers in our State and the importance of milk in our lives. In 
Vermont we pay tribute to the men and women of America who get up so 
early in the morning to milk the cows and bring us the safest, most 
wholesome supply of milk in all the world. I think 

[[Page S9323]]
we should pay tribute here in Washington, too.
  We should also remember how important dairy products are to American 
culture and to the diet of Americans.
  Little League games just would not be the same without the promise of 
a trip to the drive-in for a cone after the game. The Indy 500 winner 
still drinks milk in victory lane and cookouts would not be the same 
without a sizzling burger topped by a slice of cheddar.
  More important than the enjoyment we get from dairy products, is the 
nutrition we get from dairy products. There are some who try to hurt 
the image of milk and others who distort the truth about the 
nutritional value of milk, but the facts cannot be denied.
  Milk is a nutrient dense food that is an important part of the 
American diet. Milk and dairy foods supply 75 percent of the calcium in 
the U.S. food supply as well as substantial amounts of riboflavin, 
protein, potassium, vitamin B 12, zinc, magnesium, and vitamins A and B 
6. Some might argue that calcium can be gained through fortified foods 
or taking calcium supplements. While these alternatives can supply 
calcium, research has shown that people who have low calcium intakes 
also have low intakes of several other nutrients which can be supplied 
by dairy foods. A recent report from the National Institutes of Health 
recommends that ``the preferred source of calcium is through calcium 
rich foods such as dairy products.''
  Adequate calcium intake is especially critical for young women. 
Building optimal bone mass before age 30 is one of the best ways to 
prevent osteoporosis later in life. Increasingly, we see young women 
failing to get the calcium they need. In addition, nutrients from dairy 
products are keys to preventing high blood pressure, which increases 
the risk of heart disease, stroke, and renal failure.
  Many Americans are becoming more conscious about their diets. It is 
important that people not eliminate nutritious foods such as dairy 
foods from their diets as they attempt to reduce fat intake. A wide 
array of dairy foods come in low fat and nonfat versions, while 
delivering the same amount of nutrients. Research has shown that people 
can increase dairy food consumption to recommended levels without 
gaining weight or increasing blood cholesterol.
  I will not talk about policy or politics today except to add we need 
to keep the importance of dairy products in mind as we consider changes 
to our nutrition programs. And we need to remember the hard working men 
and women who bring us nature's most perfect food as we craft our dairy 
policy this year during the farm bill.
  I do not often rise to talk about commemorative days, weeks, or 
months. But I hope my colleagues will join with me in raising the 
awareness of Americans about good nutrition and expressing our 
appreciation to America's dairy farmers for their hard work.


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