GIVE MILK Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 818 To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow certain participants in the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children to elect to be issued a variety of types of milk, including whole milk, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 4, 2021 Mr. KELLER (for himself and Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to allow certain participants in the special supplemental nutrition pro- gram for women, infants, and children to elect to be issued a variety of types of milk, including whole milk, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Giving Increased Vari- 4 ety to Ensure Milk Into the Lives of Kids Act’’ or the 5 ‘‘GIVE MILK Act’’. 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 17:39 Feb 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H818.IH H818 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 818 IH SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 1 Congress finds the following: 2 (1) Most Americans, including most children 3 and adolescents, consume on average only about half 4 of the recommended amounts of dairy foods daily. 5 (2) Milk is a source of many nutrients essential 6 to health, and is the leading source of and is a 7 source of twelve essential nutrients (calcium, phos- 8 phorus, vitamin A, vitamin D (in fortified products), 9 riboflavin, vitamin B12, protein, potassium, zinc, 10 choline, magnesium, and selenium) in the diets of 11 children and adolescents, including three nutrients 12 of public health concern: vitamin D, calcium, and 13 potassium. 14 (3) Dairy foods are associated with improved 15 bone health, a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a bene- 16 ficial or neutral effect on blood pressure, and may 17 help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, coro- 18 nary heart disease, and stroke. 19 (4) In a September 2019 report on beverage 20 recommendations for early childhood, the Academy 21 of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of 22 Pediatric Dentists, American Academy of Pediatrics, 23 and the American Heart Association found that— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 17:39 Feb 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H818.IH H818 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 818 IH (A) medical professionals are in agreement 1 that whole milk is good for childhood develop- 2 ment between ages one and two; 3 (B) skim and low-fat milk are rec- 4 ommended for young children; 5 (C) plant-based, non-dairy milks are not 6 recommended for young children; and 7 (D) an expert panel under the study recog- 8 nized that there has been recent research and 9 discussion regarding the role of dairy fat in 10 healthy dietary patterns but in the absence of 11 clear evidence justifying a departure from cur- 12 rent recommendations, such expert panel chose 13 to remain consistent with current guidance rec- 14 ommending whole milk for most children ages 15 12 to 24 months and fat-free (skim) or low-fat 16 (1 percent) milk for children ages 2 years and 17 older. 18 (5) The 2020 through 2025 Dietary Guidelines 19 for Americans recommendation of the number of 20 dairy servings for young children is— 21 (A) 1.5 to 2 servings for 12 to 23 months; 22 and 23 (B) 2 servings for 24 months. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 17:39 Feb 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H818.IH H818 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 818 IH SEC. 3. WIC ELECTION FOR TYPE OF MILK. 1 (a) ELECTION FOR TYPE OF MILK.—Section 17(f) 2 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (7 U.S.C. 1431(f)) is 3 amended by adding at the end the following: 4 ‘‘(27) ELECTION FOR TYPE OF MILK.— 5 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 6 other provision of law, in the case of an indi- 7 vidual participating in the program authorized 8 by this section who is issued milk by the Sec- 9 retary, such individual (or the parent or guard- 10 ian of such individual) may elect to be issued 11 nonfat milk, low-fat milk, reduced fat milk, or 12 whole milk. 13 ‘‘(B) ELECTION.—The Secretary shall 14 issue the type of milk elected by an individual 15 under subparagraph (A) to such individual.’’. 16 (b) REVISION OF REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of 17 Agriculture shall revise regulations in accordance with the 18 amendments made by this section, including revision of 19 section 246.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations. 20 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 17:39 Feb 24, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H818.IH H818 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS