The focus now turns to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, which has jurisdiction over child nutrition issues. The Senate must consider and pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the end of the 118th Congress, or by January 3, 2025.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R.1147) passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 330-99. This bipartisan tally in the House sets a strong precedent as the momentum moves to the U.S. Senate, where a companion bill (S.1957) is being led by U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) with the support of 9 additional bipartisan cosponsors.
The bill would reintroduce whole (3.25% milkfat) and reduced-fat (2% milkfat) milk to school cafeterias, restoring the two most popular milk varieties to schools. Today's vote and the momentum behind the bill are due in large part to the direct advocacy of IDFA members at legislative fly-ins, meetings and phone calls with legislators, and virtually through the IDFA Campaign Center. In fact, IDFA members and dairy advocates sent approximately 1,000 emails to their legislators in the past week alone.