U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) on Feb. 21 led more than three dozen of his colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would allow schools participating in the federal school lunch program to serve whole milk.
“Bad federal policy has kept whole milk out of our school cafeterias for too long,” Rep. Thompson said on Tuesday. “Milk is the number one source of 13 essential nutrients. In order for students to excel in the classroom, they must have access to proper nutrition.”
The congressman sponsored the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, H.R. 1147, with 38 original cosponsors to allow unflavored and flavored whole milk to be offered in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, which provides low-cost or free school lunch meals to qualified students through subsidies to schools.
“It is my hope the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act will give children a wide variety of milk options and bolster milk consumption, a win-win for growing children and America’s dairy farmers,” said Rep. Thompson.
Among the members who signed on as original cosponsors of H.R. 1147 were U.S. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Andy Barr (R-KY), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), John Joyce (R-PA), and Kim Schrier (D-WA).
“As a pediatrician, I have dedicated my career to the wellbeing of children. I know how important adequate nutrition is for growing kids,” said Rep. Schrier, the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 1147. “A good diet early in life leads to proper physical growth, helps improve academic performance, and lays a foundation for healthy eating habits as an adult. Milk is an essential part of that diet.”
The measure is supported by the International Dairy Foods Association, the National Milk Producers Federation, and the Grassroots Pennsylvania Dairy Advisory Committee.