WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, bipartisan legislation which offers school food service providers simplicity, flexibility, and choice to serve all types of milk, including whole and 2 percent milk.
Chairwoman Foxx's remarks (as prepared for delivery):
“It’s Christmas time across America. For many, the season brings with it the annual return of cherished Christmas traditions, such as leaving milk and cookies out for Santa Claus and his reindeer to enjoy. As for my family, our traditional choice of dairy has always been whole milk. We only want the best nutritional option for Santa.
“The nutrients in whole milk—like protein, calcium, and vitamin D—provide the fuel Santa needs to travel the whole globe in one night. Whole milk is the unsung hero of his Christmas journey.
“Protein helps build and repair Santa’s muscles. Hoisting heavy sacks of gifts up and down the chimney is no easy task.
“Calcium is vital for strong bones. It is calcium that keeps Santa strong and sturdy as he dashes from rooftop to rooftop.
“And vitamin D is essential to a strong immune system. Santa absolutely needs one as he braves the cold, wintry night.
“You see, it's not just the magic of the season that helps Santa deliver presents worldwide—it's also the fortifying nutrients of whole milk.
“Reflecting on Christmas traditions this year begs the question: if whole milk is a good option to fuel Santa’s extraordinary Christmas Eve journey, then why isn’t it an option for American schoolchildren in their lunchrooms?
“That’s why I support Representative G.T. Thompson’s Whole Milk For Health Kids Act, a bill allowing unflavored and flavored whole milk to be offered in school cafeterias.
“Since 2012, the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program has only allowed low-fat and fat-free milk options for American schoolchildren. This means 2 percent and whole milk have been excluded from the daily diets of an entire generation of kids. The USDA intends to finalize another rule which will further limit milk options.
“Anti-milk advocates advance one main argument against whole milk—that whole milk is bad for kids.
“Rather, milk has 13 essential nutrients that are needed for kids to live healthy lives and succeed in school. It is an essential ingredient to growth and development. Research shows that whole milk is associated with a neutral or lower risk of heart disease and obesity.
“Moreover, the USDA contradicts itself by limiting milk options for young children. On one hand, it recognizes that children are at risk of under consuming dairy, yet on the other, it creates policies that will only exacerbate the problem.
“If Americans have learned anything from these past three years, it’s that scientific authorities tend to contradict themselves. The truth is that whole milk is a significant source of vital nutrients for children’s growth and development. The federal bureaucracy should never stand in between your children and a nutritious lunch.
“The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act isn't about advocating for one type of milk over another. It's about providing parents, schools, and food service providers with the option to choose what's best for our children's nutrition.
“This act does not aim to diminish the importance of other milk varieties; rather, it seeks to restore the availability of a wholesome, natural option that has been a staple for generations.
“This bill is about choice. It's a chance to empower parents and schools to make informed choices about what goes into our children's diets.
“Whether it’s the nutritional foundation for Santa’s journey or your child’s math homework, let’s not discount the benefits of whole milk.”
Click here for a fact sheet on the bill.
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