{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-schriers-bill-improve-childrens-nutrition-passes-house", "Representative Schrier\u2019s Bill to Improve Children\u2019s Nutrition Passes the House", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023, a bill introduced by Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), by a vote of 330-99. This bipartisan legislation aims to improve the quality and nutrition of school lunches by allowing for reduced fat (2%) and whole milk to be served in public schools. Congresswoman Schrier is joined in introducing this bill by Congressman Glenn \u2018GT\u2019 Thompson (R-PA), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.\n\nWhole milk has been prohibited in school lunches for over a decade due to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. That billchanged nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and mandated that flavored milk be fat-free and traditional milk be, at most, 1% fat. Since the bill was enacted and whole milk was banned from school lunches, per capita milk consumption among children has steadily declined.\n\nThe Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act amends the nutrition standards and allows for flavored and unflavored reduced-fat (2%) and whole milk to be served in school lunches.\n\n\u201cAs a pediatrician, I have spent my career dedicated to the well-being of children and I know how important adequate nutrition is for growing kids,\u201d said Rep. Schrier. \u201cA healthy diet early in life leads to proper physical growth, improved academic performance, and a strong foundation for healthy eating habits as an adult. Milk, which provides essential calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin D, is an essential part of that diet. Whole milk is a filling, nutritious option that will help ensure that our children are well-fed and healthy.\u201d\n\n\"Milk is an essential building block for a well-rounded and balanced diet, offering 13 essential nutrients and numerous health benefits. However, out-of-touch and outdated federal regulations have imposed restrictions on the types of milk students have access to in school meals,\u201d said Rep. Thompson. \u201cI am pleased to see my bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act pass out of the United States House of Representatives, and I ultimately look forward to restoring access to these nutritious beverages in schools across the country.\"\n\n\u201cDarigold, one of the nation\u2019s largest dairy producers, along with our 300 farmer-owners, is pleased to offer its support for HR 1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Those of us in the dairy sector know first-hand that high-quality dairy products are a great source of key nutrients,\u201d said Allan Huttema, dairy farmer and chairman and interim CEO of Darigold. \u201cToo many children and adolescents don\u2019t get enough dairy in their diets and this important legislation would help ensure that more of them benefit from the nutrient density and great taste of fresh, whole milk. We appreciate Rep. Schier\u2019s leadership on this issue; as a pediatrician there is not a more credible advocate in Congress. We thank Reps. Schrier and Thompson for sponsoring HR 1147 and the House of Representatives for passing it.\u201d\n\n\u201cNMPF applauds Representatives Glenn \u2018GT\u2019 Thompson and Kim Schrier for their leadership in increasing students\u2019 access to crucial nutrition with their Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act,\u201d said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation. \u201cThis bipartisan measure helps address kids\u2019 underconsumption of the vital nutrients milk provides. This bill allows schools to offer students healthful milk options that they are more likely to choose to drink by expanding the milk options schools can choose to serve to also include the most popular and also nutritious reduced fat and whole milk varieties. NMPF thanks Representatives Thompson and Schrier for spearheading this bipartisan, commonsense, widely supported solution to address students\u2019 nutrition insecurity across the U.S.\u201d\n\n\u201cIDFA applauds the strong bipartisan passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the U.S. House of Representatives,\u201d said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of International Dairy Foods Association. \u201cThis bill would allow schools to once again provide children with a wide variety of milk options that they will drink and that meet their individual needs\u2014whether that be whole and 2%, low-fat milks, or lactose-free milks. Whole milk and reduced-fat milks alike provide children with 13 essential nutrients for growth, development, healthy immune function, and overall wellness. A wide majority of parents and medical and nutrition professionals know that offering these options increases school meal participation, reduces food waste, and provides nutritionally valuable school meals for children and adolescents. IDFA is grateful to Chairman Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson, Rep. Kim Schrier, and the many other lawmakers who for years have championed this effort to reinstate the full suite nutritious milk options in school meals. We strongly urge the Senate to pass this legislation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-schriers-bill-improve-childrens-nutrition-passes-house"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8483251333236694, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}