HARRISBURG — Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and members of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee demonstrated their support for Pennsylvania’s dairy industry Tuesday by endorsing federal legislation to ensure whole milk is made available in schools and only milk from animals can be labeled as such.

“June is Dairy Month, so it is fitting for the committee to place a spotlight on some of the challenges our dairy farmers are facing,” said Causer, who chairs the committee. “Ensuring the future of our dairy industry is important from an economic standpoint, but also from a public health and nutrition standpoint because milk is good for all of us, especially our kids.”

The committee welcomed Congressmen Glenn Thompson and Fred Keller, who discussed two key dairy-related bills being considered at the federal level.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2019, authored by Thompson, 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.

The Dairy PRIDE Act would protect the integrity of dairy products by calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce existing labeling requirements for milk. Essentially, non-dairy products made from nuts, seeds and plants could no longer be marketed as milk, yogurt or cheese.

To show their support for the measures, the state House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee members unanimously approved two resolutions urging Congress to act on both bills: House Resolution 222, authored by Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester/Lancaster), outlines how the mislabeling of non-dairy products is causing confusion among consumers and negatively impacting the sale of genuine milk products.

It urges congressional action on the Dairy PRIDE Act and urges the FDA to update and enforce the standard of identity for milk.

House Resolution 402, authored by Rep. Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana), highlights the nutritional value of whole milk in providing healthy fats and essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D to help our kids grow healthy and strong. It specifically states the committee’s support of Thompson’s Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2019.

Following the committee meeting, Causer joined advocates from across the state at the “Dairy Day for Healthy Kids” rally in the Capitol Rotunda, continuing the call-to-action on the two congressional bills.

“It was great to see so many people coming out in support of our children and of our dairy industry,” Causer said.