Press Releases

Washington, DC—December 13, 2023…Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) voted for H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023. This legislation will correct a misguided decision from 2010 to restrict milk choice in school meals by giving schools the option to serve all types of milk, including whole and 2%.

Congressman Womack said, “Whole and 2% milk are staples for America’s children. These nutritious and delicious beverages should be offered to develop bright young minds in schools, but the Biden Administration has continued to ban them from cafeterias across the country. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act will bring back all milk choices to fuel stronger and healthier students across America.”

Background:

Milk has 13 essential nutrients that are needed for kids to live healthy lives and succeed in school. Currently, only fat-free and low-fat milks are permitted in school meals because of concerns about high cholesterol and obesity in young people, with milk consumption blamed as the cause. But USDA’s own findings say that not enough school children are consuming the recommended levels of dairy. Additionally, research demonstrates that full fat dairy is associated with a neutral or lower risk of heart disease and obesity. Congress has long shared bipartisan concern about limiting milk choice and Congress has sought—led by Congressman Womack and his colleagues on the Appropriations Committee—to expand milk choice through the appropriations process since Fiscal Year 2015.

The Biden administration has proposed not only continuing to limit milk options to unpopular fat-free and low-fat types, but also prohibiting students from drinking flavored milk until high school.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He is a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

womack.house.gov

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