GIVE MILK Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8077 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 AUGUST 21, 2020 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 01:00 Sep 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8077.IH H8077 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8077 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 nine essential 7 nutrients in the diets of children and adolescents, in- 8 cluding three nutrients of public health concern: vi- 9 tamin D, calcium, and potassium. 10 (3) Dairy foods are associated with improved 11 bone health, a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a bene- 12 ficial or neutral effect on blood pressure, and may 13 help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, coro- 14 nary heart disease, and stroke. 15 (4) In a September 2019 report on beverage 16 recommendations for early childhood, the Academy 17 of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of 18 Pediatric Dentists, American Academy of Pediatrics, 19 and the American Heart Association found that— 20 (A) medical professionals are in agreement 21 that whole milk is good for childhood develop- 22 ment; 23 (B) skim and low-fat milk are rec- 24 ommended for young children; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:00 Sep 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8077.IH H8077 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8077 IH (C) plant-based, non-dairy milks are not 1 recommended for young children; and 2 (D) an expert panel under the study recog- 3 nized that there has been recent research and 4 discussion regarding the role of dairy fat in 5 healthy dietary patterns but in the absence of 6 clear evidence justifying a departure from cur- 7 rent recommendations, such expert panel chose 8 to remain consistent with current guidance rec- 9 ommending whole milk for most children ages 10 12 to 24 months and fat-free (skim) or low-fat 11 (1 percent) milk for children ages 2 years and 12 older. 13 SEC. 3. WIC ELECTION FOR TYPE OF MILK. 14 (a) ELECTION FOR TYPE OF MILK.—Section 17(f) 15 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (7 U.S.C. 1431(f)) is 16 amended by adding at the end the following: 17 ‘‘(27) ELECTION FOR TYPE OF MILK.— 18 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 19 other provision of law, in the case of an indi- 20 vidual participating in the program authorized 21 by this section who is issued milk by the Sec- 22 retary, such individual (or the parent or guard- 23 ian of such individual) may elect to be issued 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:00 Sep 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8077.IH H8077 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8077 IH nonfat milk, 1 percent low-fat milk, 2 percent 1 reduced fat milk, or whole milk. 2 ‘‘(B) ELECTION.—The Secretary shall 3 issue the type of milk elected by an individual 4 under subparagraph (A) to such individual.’’. 5 (b) REVISION OF REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of 6 Agriculture shall revise regulations in accordance with the 7 amendments made by this section, including revision of 8 section 246.10 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations. 9 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:00 Sep 03, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8077.IH H8077 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS