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NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize June as National Dairy Month.
National Dairy Month began as National Milk Month in 1937. Now it has developed into an annual tradition that celebrates the contributions the dairy industry has made to the world.
Milk contains nine essential nutrients which may help reduce your risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain cancers; yet dairy products, particularly milk, continue to be unfairly demonized.
Coming from a long line of dairy farmers, I understand the impact that this decrease in milk consumption has caused. Not only does it hurt our dairy industry, but it has also resulted in the loss of an entire generation of milk drinkers, which has negatively impacted their health.
That is why I introduced the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act in March of this year with the gentleman from New York, Mr. Antonio Delgado. This bill addresses the importance of providing both flavored and unflavored whole milk in school cafeterias.
This builds upon the efforts from the School Milk Nutrition Act, which allows for flavored and unflavored 1 percent milk to return as an option for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
Last month, Mr. Joe Courtney and I led a bipartisan coalition of 55 Members of Congress from across the country in writing a letter to Secretary Vilsack of the USDA. This letter urged him to codify the efforts to continue to provide schools the option to offer low-fat flavored or unflavored milk.
Whether it is protein to help build and repair the muscle tissues of active bodies or vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin, dairy products are a natural nutrient powerhouse.
That is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to sign on to my bill, the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act, during National Dairy Month and allow our students the option of consuming the type of milk that they love.
And this month, when you pour a glass of milk, enjoy a cheese board, or cool down with some ice cream, remember the hardworking dairy farmers and farm families who made that possible.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 104
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