[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 104 (Thursday, June 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4922-H4923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, Tuesday morning, I had 
the honor of being in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at the State capitol to 
speak about my bill, Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The House 
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee at the State legislature hosted 
a panel to discuss my legislation that would increase milk options in 
school lunchrooms across the country.
  Later that morning, we gathered in the capitol rotunda with State 
lawmakers and representatives of the dairy industry, dairy farm 
families from throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to rally in 
support of putting whole milk back in our schools.
  Madam Speaker, dairy products like milk contain 9 essential nutrients 
that can help reduce your risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, 
and certain cancers. It is helpful with weight management. And whether 
it is protein to help build and repair muscle tissue of active bodies 
or Vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin, dairy products are a 
natural nutrient powerhouse.
  I was especially glad to participate in these events, because June is 
National Dairy Month.

  Proudly, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of the largest milk-
producing States in the Nation, and this annual tradition celebrates 
the contributions the dairy industry and dairy farm families have made 
to the world. It is my hope that, through this legislation, we will be 
able to allow students to select the type of milk that they love best, 
including flavored and whole milk.
  This legislation is in response to changes made in 2010 to the School 
Lunch Program. That year, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act amended the 
nutrition standards and mandated that flavored milk must be fat-free.
  This law, along with the lowest participation in the program, led to 
an alarming decline in milk consumption in schools since 2010. 
Declining milk consumption in schools not only impacts students where 
they don't get the nutrition that they need, but also the dairy farm 
families in rural communities across the Nation.
  In addition to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, I recently 
introduced another bill with Congressman   Joe Courtney to expand milk 
options for students and reverse the decline of milk consumption in 
schools. The School Milk Nutrition Act of 2019 reaffirms and codifies a 
recent regulation from the USDA by providing schools with the option to 
serve lowfat milk with flavor, and it requires that milk offered is 
consistent with the most recent dietary guidelines for Americans.
  In November of 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 lowfat 1 percent flavored milk.

                              {time}  0915

  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 with the nutrition that they need.
  I thank the Pennsylvania lawmakers and members of the dairy industry 
who stood together in Harrisburg on Tuesday in support of the Whole 
Milk for Healthy Kids Act.

[[Page H4923]]

  Milk is the official beverage of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 
and I hope we will soon allow students everywhere the option to drink 
whole milk with their lunches, should they choose to enjoy it.

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