[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5987-S5988]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                  Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 1147

  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, today I rise to ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate pass H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.
  But before I start talking, I just want to take a quick drink of this 
superdelicious milk.
  Here is to the dairy farmers of Kansas and across the entire country.
  Now, a fun fact: Besides water, milk is the only beverage allowed 
here on the Senate floor. And, as you all know, milk is the most 
delicious, most nutritious wholesome drink known to humankind. There is 
nothing that has ever been made anything like it.
  Now, milk is pretty special to me, and you might ask why. And it is 
pretty simple.
  My dad grew up on a dairy, where they milked Holstein cows every 
morning, every day of the year, 365 days a year. And I remember, all 
the way through high school, my grandma still milking cows.
  When your grandma milks cows, you get to have milk for breakfast, for 
lunch, for supper. Even in school, we got to have milk and a little 
snack at 10 a.m., and I was one of the lucky kids who got two cartons 
of milk every lunch.
  And I just learned--I didn't know this. I just assumed that this is 
what everyone was doing--that if you didn't leave whole milk out for 
Santa Claus, then he wouldn't leave you presents.
  Now, whole milk helps to keep growing kids and adults healthy and 
strong because it has 13 essential nutrients packed into one drink. And 
because of the fat content, specifically in whole milk, it promotes the 
absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
  Now, as an obstetrician, I can't stress enough the importance of 
drinking whole milk during pregnancy. It helps you have healthy babies. 
It helps with breastfeeding. It helps us all to grow strong bones.
  Now, science has also shown that milk consumption provides additional 
positive health outcomes. It lowers blood pressure. It reduces risk of 
cardiovascular disease and reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes.
  As medical costs skyrocket and the obesity epidemic worsens, I rise 
today to set the record straight: Milk is part of the solution; it is 
not part of the problem.
  Now, many fingers have been pointed at the dairy industry, and 
millions of lobbying dollars have been invested in making lawmakers 
believe that milk is the enemy. Anti-dairy policies have resulted in 
decreased milk consumption and, ironically, in an increase in negative 
health outcomes.
  In fact, the most recent ``Dietary Guidelines for Americans'' cites 
calcium, potassium, and vitamin D as three of the top four 
underconsumed nutrients that Americans are deficient in. Well, guess 
what is rich in those same nutrients? Well, of course, it is milk. All 
of those deficiencies can be resolved with an increase in milk 
consumption, and that is why I recommend at least a glass of whole milk 
every day.
  No other food or drink has the ability to pack that kind of 
nutritional punch--none. But, sadly, over a decade ago, this 
misinformed Chamber voted to remove whole milk from our Nation's 
schools, and now we are facing the consequences. Because we are not 
encouraging our children to drink milk, we have a generation of young 
men and women who are going to have osteopenia and osteoporosis 10 to 
15 years earlier than their predecessors.
  Now, let me reiterate: Preventable diseases will occur more 
frequently as a consequence of a Federal Government overreaction that 
is based on obsolete research--research which corrects modern 
nutritional science and discourages healthy eating habits for children.
  Today, we can right this wrong and bring back nutritious whole milk 
to our children's lunchtime. Let's bring back this tasty and nutritious 
option.
  Whole milk has a litany of health benefits to offer our children. And 
did I mention that it tastes great? The benefits of whole milk can't be 
overlooked and certainly not substituted with skim milk or 1 percent, 
and certainly not by artificially flavored milk that is loaded with 
empty calories.
  Bringing more healthy options back to school cafeterias is a slam 
dunk for American families, and delivering this to the President's desk 
before Christmas would help promote the consumption of healthy fats 
that help kids grow physically and cognitively. It supports American 
farmers and ranchers and promotes a brighter, stronger future for us 
all.
  Milk--it is what is for lunch.
  As if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 1147, which was received 
from the House and is at the desk; further, that the bill be considered 
read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there an objection?
  Ms. STABENOW. Reserving the right to object, Mr. President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, first of all, my friend and colleague, 
esteemed member of our Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee 
is making me hungry. I am thinking about growing up with cookies and 
milk.
  I grew up with dairy farmers in my family. So I am certainly a 
supporter of milk and the dairy industry, certainly in Michigan as 
well. And this is a really important conversation today to have and to 
continue to have.
  I fully support healthy options for students. Dairy is a very 
important part of a balanced meal. But one thing is clear, and that is 
that school meal standards, currently based on dietary science, should 
continue to be based on dietary science, not based on which individual 
food products we support or are in our States.
  USDA is in the process, right now, of updating school meal standards. 
It is important that the administration rely on the latest dietary 
science to make decisions about what is best for our children to eat 
and to drink. Intervening in that process creates, I think, a very 
unfortunate precedent and will lead to other ideas and options that may 
be coming forward about individual products.
  So I encourage groups to be reaching out to the USDA and to engage in 
the process of updating meal standards. But, at this point in time, I 
do not believe it is in the best interest to be able to move forward on 
this bill. So I object to this UC request.

[[Page S5988]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection has been heard.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.