By Jamie Martin
With key tax and spending legislation now passed, Congress may soon focus on bringing whole milk back into school cafeterias.
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is optimistic about advancing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which could restore access to nutrient-rich milk options for students.
In a recent Dairy Defined podcast, Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s executive vice president for government relations, shared the group’s hopes for swift congressional action. “One item I’ll single out first that we’re hopeful to get done really in the next couple months here is the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act,” said Bleiberg.
“We had a great voice vote, bipartisan voice vote out of the Senate Agriculture Committee just over a month ago, so we’re hoping that we can get that through the Senate and then through the House, and begin that work of getting whole milk and 2% milk back into schools and getting kids better access to the nutrient-dense dairy options that really give them the benefits they need and that they enjoy.”
The act received bipartisan support from the Senate Agriculture Committee, increasing chances for its passage in both chambers. If successful, it would reintroduce whole and 2% milk in school meal programs nationwide, giving students healthier choices.
Besides the milk initiative, the podcast also covered topics like agricultural labor reform, farm bill provisions, and NMPF’s key policy priorities for the remainder of the year. Maria Brockamp, NMPF’s new manager of government relations, joined Bleiberg to discuss these efforts.
NMPF encourages stakeholders to follow its legislative work through its new bill tracker. The Dairy Defined podcast is available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
As Congress shifts its focus, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act stands out as a significant step in improving student nutrition and supporting dairy farmers across the U.S.
Photo Credit: national-milk-producers-federation
Categories: National