[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 11, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ALLEN PINGEE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life and service of Allen ``Al'' Pingee of Lewis Run. Al passed away on 
Tuesday, April 23, at his home, surrounded by his family.
  Al was a McKean County commissioner at the time of his death, and I 
flew a flag over the United States Capitol to be presented to Al's 
family and his colleagues.
  Prior to becoming a commissioner, Al was a member of the city of 
Bradford professional firefighters and retired as a captain in 1988. He 
then served as Bradford Township supervisor for 14 years, 11 of those 
years as chairman.
  Al was a proud Vietnam veteran. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps 
and was honorably discharged as a corporal in September 1970.
  Mr. Speaker, Al Pingee has served his Nation and his community.
  Above all else, he was a family man, a loving husband of 36 years to 
his wife, Deborah, and father to his four children, Andy, Scott, Jeff, 
and Jodie. He was a grandfather, a brother, and a friend to many.
  We remember Al Pingee for his exceptional service to others.
  May he rest in peace.


                    Recognizing National Dairy Month

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
June as National Dairy Month.
  Dairy products like milk contain nine essential nutrients that may 
help reduce the risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain 
cancers. Whether it is a protein to help build and repair the muscle 
tissue of active bodies or Vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin, 
dairy products are a natural nutrient powerhouse.
  National Dairy Month started out as National Milk Month in 1937 to 
stabilize the dairy demand when the production was at a surplus. Now, 
it has developed into an annual tradition that celebrates the 
contributions the dairy industry has made to the world.
  Proudly, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of the largest milk-
producing States in the Nation. I have a bill called the Whole Milk for 
Healthy Kids Act, which would allow for whole milk, both flavored and 
nonflavored, to be offered in school cafeterias.
  Just last week, I introduced the School Milk Nutrition Act with 
Congressman   Joe Courtney to expand milk options for students and 
reverse the decline of milk consumption in our schools. Our bill 
reaffirms recent regulation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture by 
providing schools with the option to serve low-fat milk with flavor and 
requires that the milk offered is consistent with the most recent 
Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
  In November 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced 
regulatory changes for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast 
Programs, including a provision that provides schools with the option 
to serve low-fat 1 percent flavored milk.
  The School Milk Nutrition Act for 2019 will codify this milk 
provision and will maintain the option for schools to offer low-fat 1 
percent flavored milk if it is consistent with the most recent Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans.
  I urge my colleagues to sign on to these bills during National Dairy 
Month and allow our students the option of consuming the type of milk 
that they love and to receive the nutrition that they need.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to being, a week from today, in our State 
capital of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at 11 a.m. for a rally with all 
the advocates for nutrition for children and certainly for dairy 
farming, as we rally for whole milk for healthy kids.

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