HARRISBURG — The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, will host an informational meeting with Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson at the state Capitol next week to discuss his federal legislation to increase milk options at schools across the country.
U.S. House Resolution 832, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2019, would allow flavored and unflavored whole milk to be offered in school cafeterias.
The bill was introduced in response to the decline in milk consumption among students after schools were forced to offer only skim flavored milks.
“Milk has great nutritional value for all of us, but especially for growing children,” Causer said. “I look forward to the opportunity to learn more about Congressman Thompson’s initiative and what we can do at the state level to support his efforts.”
Thompson said he has concerns about the lack of milk in schools.
“Milk is the No. 1 source of nine essential nutrients in the diets of our students, but if they don’t drink it these health benefits are lost,” Thompson said. “Milk consumption has been declining in schools throughout the nation because kids are not consuming the varieties of milk being made available to them. I look forward to discussing my bill with the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in Harrisburg.”
The congressman continued, “It is my hope that the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act will bring a wider range of milk options to American lunchrooms so students can choose the kind they love best.”
Prior to the informational meeting, committee members are expected to vote on House Resolution 402 offering formal support for Thompson’s bill.
They are also slated to consider House Resolution 222, which urges the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to support the standard of identity for milk in the face of a growing number of plant-based products being marketed as “milk.” This resolution supports federal legislation known as the Dairy PRIDE Act.
Marketing products made from soy, almonds, cashews and other plant-based products as milk is believed to be causing confusion among consumers and is detrimental to the dairy industry.
The meeting to vote on the resolutions will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, and will be immediately followed by the informational meeting with Thompson, U.S. Rep. Fred Keller and a nutrition expert who will discuss the benefits of milk consumption for children.
At 11 a.m., lawmakers and representatives of the dairy industry from across the state will rally in support of Thompson’s bill and related measures in the state Capitol rotunda.
Both the committee meetings and the rally will be streamed live at www.RepCauser.com.
