Floor SpeechBipartisan2025-11-20

WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2025

Foreign PolicyTradeEducationAgriculture

Context

On 2025-11-20, Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) delivered a floor speech titled "WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2025" in the Senate.

Full Text

WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2025

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S8259-S8261] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2025 Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, before I start talking today, I just want to pause for a moment to take a quick drink of the most nutritious, delicious drink known to humankind. So here is to healthy bones and here is to all the hard-working dairy farmers across Kansas and across America. This summer, the Senate Agriculture Committee worked together to pass this legislation through the committee on a bipartisan basis. Special thanks to our chairman and to our ranking member for working on this with us. [[Page S8260]] This bill will allow for whole and reduced milk, as well as nutritionally equivalent nondairy options, to be served in schools. This corrects a decades-old policy made here in Congress that consequently created over 10 years of kids without having access to whole milk in schools and, indeed, created a whole generation of young Americans with weak bones. Passing the Whole Milk for Health Kids Act through the Senate is a huge win for schools, for students, for parents, and for American dairy farmers. We are giving students more choices, schools more flexibility, and ensuring a brighter future for our farmers. Whole milk delivers 13 essential nutrients and has enough fat content to help students absorb vitamins like A, D, E, and K. It is also packed with protein that helps keep the student full all the way through those long afternoon math classes and then on through gym and on through their sports activities, until they get home at night for dinner. Simply put, it is one of the healthiest--it is the healthiest--option in the cafeteria. Bringing whole milk and nutritionally equivalent beverages to schools would help fight early onset osteoporosis, osteopenia, and other diet- related diseases by providing students with critical nutrients-- nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin D--that we are all lacking today. It strengthens bones. It helps your immune system. It builds healthy habits, and it tastes great. As the grandson of a dairy farmer, as an OB-GYN for over 30 years, it may seem like I am a bit biased, but I assure you this legislation is a slam-dunk solution for our Nation. Of course, there is always room to improve our public health, and I look forward to working with our colleagues who, I understand, also have a few thoughts on this legislation. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont. Mr. WELCH. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleague the Senator from Kansas, and I wanted to join him in drinking a glass of whole milk. My only regret is it is not Vermont milk, but I have got to tell you the best milk is made in Vermont. Thank you very much. As the Senator was saying, this is a very serious thing in two ways. No. 1, we have to have good nutrition for our kids, and the Senator from Kansas has outlined why milk is so good. Of course, I remember growing up and going to grammar school, and I looked forward to milk. We had milk breaks, and it made a difference to pay attention in those afternoon classes and to be active in your sports activities right after that. The second reason is that the dairy farming industry is not so much an industry as it is a way of life, and in Vermont, the hardest working people we have are our dairy farmers. It is a hard, hard job, but it is one where families have done it from generation to generation. There is enormous pride in being custodians of the landscape and caring for the animals and the herd, and in providing nutritious milk for the community. And there is a lot of pressure on our farmers. This whole milk bill is an acknowledgment of the extraordinary contribution that the dairy farmers in the State of Vermont make to the entire State of Vermont and that the dairy farmers in America make to all of America, including, of course, those wonderful dairy farmers in the great State of Kansas. Now, on this bill, we have had incredible cooperation from our Senators, who have raised a very important concern: Some people are lactose intolerant. They can't drink milk. And the way the legislation was written--but, actually, because of something that went back to the Truman years--there is some suggestion that is a disability. I want to thank Senator Alsobrooks, who is here, for bringing this to our attention, along with Senator Warnock, in working with us to try to get through this so that there is no question about this being a ``disability.'' This is about folks who can drink milk having access to milk, and it is about honoring our dairy farmers for the work that they do. I am really happy to be here with my colleague. I understand Senator Alsobrooks may have some questions, and I will yield to her for that purpose. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland. Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I thank Senator Welch and Senator Marshall and my colleagues who are here today and all the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their bipartisan work on this legislation. This legislation rightfully provides more options for parents, students, and teachers, which will benefit our children and their families. Specifically, this legislation will allow schools to provide whole milk, but it also makes it easier for parents to request that their child be provided with a milk alternative, if their child suffers from lactose intolerance. I do, however, remain concerned about the continued classification of lactose intolerance as a disability. I want to be clear that this issue predates the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and the bill does not create this problem. Lactose intolerance of some degree affects more than 50 percent of the population. The classification of lactose intolerance as a disability can cause confusion for parents, who would not refer to their lactose intolerant child as having a disability, especially given the high prevalence of lactose intolerance. So they may not realize that they can write a letter asking for their child's school to provide a milk alternative, and it creates an undue stigma. I want to thank my colleagues and their teams for their receptiveness to my concerns. I especially want to say thank you so much to Senator Welch and also to Senator Marshall, and for the discussions that we and our teams have had around them. After those discussions, I understand why my colleagues prefer not to use the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act as the vehicle to address these concerns, and therefore, I agreed to lift my hold on the bill in exchange for a commitment from my colleagues to work with me to find an appropriate legislative solution to address this longstanding problem. Again, I want to thank my colleagues and the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their work on this bill that ensures that schools will provide healthy milk and milk alternative options for our children. I look forward to working with you to further support the children and families in all of our States. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont. Mr. WELCH. Mr. President, I want to thank Senator Alsobrooks, as usual she is right, and there are two points. One is we want to make certain that the parents have the ability, on behalf of their children, to choose an alternative that is best for their kids. So this is not about forcing people to drink milk or depriving parents of the responsibility and power they have to make certain that their kids are healthy. So thank you so much, Senator Alsobrooks, for that. And then, secondly, the lactose intolerance point the Senator makes is valid, and that is why I am enthusiastically looking forward to working with her, so we make certain there is no stigma associated with a person who is lactose intolerant. So thank you so much for your cooperation on this, Senator, and you have my commitment to work with you to try to resolve what is an anomaly and shouldn't be there. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas. Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleagues in emphasizing the importance of whole milk in a healthy school lunch and taking Senate action to ensure a balanced diet for school-age children. I rise today in support of S. 222, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This legislation, as we discussed, would allow for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to, once again, offer whole and reduced-fat milk while also expanding the options for nutritious nondairy beverages. The good news is, this legislation has support in the Senate and was unanimously reported out of the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this year. My main message today is to thank Senators Marshall and Welch along [[Page S8261]] with Senator McCormick and Fetterman for leading the bipartisan legislation and championing policies that promote a balanced diet and increased dairy consumption for students, something dietary experts who testified before the Ag Committee agree is important to their long-term health. I also appreciate the interest of my colleagues who want to ensure these changes support their constituents, and I look forward to continuing work to secure that result. I also want to thank Senator Alsobrooks for engaging in a very constructive way regarding the bill, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to try and figure out how we can go forward and deal with the comments that she has made or concerns that she has made. I was on the school board for 7 years, and these things are important. Labels are very, very important, so we appreciate you. I am proud to share a commitment also with her in supporting school meals and to lead the committee in making commonsense updates to strengthen children's capabilities

Referenced legislation: S222

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WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2025 Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 196 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)] [Senate] [Pages S8259-S8261] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] WHOLE MILK FOR HEALTHY KIDS ACT OF 2025 Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, before I start talking today, I just want to pause for a moment to take a quick drink of the most nutritious, delicious drink known to humankind. So here is to healthy bones and here is to all the hard-working dairy farmers across Kansas and across America. This summer, the Senate Agriculture Committee worked together to pass this legislation through the committee on a bipartisan basis. Special thanks to our chairman and to our ranking member for working on this with us. [[Page S8260]] This bill will allow for whole and reduced milk, as well as nutritionally equivalent nondairy options, to be served in schools. This corrects a decades-old policy made here in Congress that consequently created over 10 years of kids without having access to whole milk in schools and, indeed, created a whole generation of young Americans with weak bones. Passing the Whole Milk for Health Kids Act through the Senate is a huge win for schools, for students, for parents, and for American dairy farmers. We are giving students more choices, schools more flexibility, and ensuring a brighter future for our farmers. Whole milk delivers 13 essential nutrients and has enough fat content to help students absorb vitamins like A, D, E, and K. It is also packed with protein that helps keep the student full all the way through those long afternoon math classes and then on through gym and on through their sports activities, until they get home at night for dinner. Simply put, it is one of the healthiest--it is the healthiest--option in the cafeteria. Bringing whole milk and nutritionally equivalent beverages to schools would help fight early onset osteoporosis, osteopenia, and other diet- related diseases by providing students with critical nutrients-- nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin D--that we are all lacking today. It strengthens bones. It helps your immune system. It builds healthy habits, and it tastes great. As the grandson of a dairy farmer, as an OB-GYN for over 30 years, it may seem like I am a bit biased, but I assure you this legislation is a slam-dunk solution for our Nation. Of course, there is always room to improve our public health, and I look forward to working with our colleagues who, I understand, also have a few thoughts on this legislation. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont. Mr. WELCH. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleague the Senator from Kansas, and I wanted to join him in drinking a glass of whole milk. My only regret is it is not Vermont milk, but I have got to tell you the best milk is made in Vermont. Thank you very much. As the Senator was saying, this is a very serious thing in two ways. No. 1, we have to have good nutrition for our kids, and the Senator from Kansas has outlined why milk is so good. Of course, I remember growing up and going to grammar school, and I looked forward to milk. We had milk breaks, and it made a difference to pay attention in those afternoon classes and to be active in your sports activities right after that. The second reason is that the dairy farming industry is not so much an industry as it is a way of life, and in Vermont, the hardest working people we have are our dairy farmers. It is a hard, hard job, but it is one where families have done it from generation to generation. There is enormous pride in being custodians of the landscape and caring for the animals and the herd, and in providing nutritious milk for the community. And there is a lot of pressure on our farmers. This whole milk bill is an acknowledgment of the extraordinary contribution that the dairy farmers in the State of Vermont make to the entire State of Vermont and that the dairy farmers in America make to all of America, including, of course, those wonderful dairy farmers in the great State of Kansas. Now, on this bill, we have had incredible cooperation from our Senators, who have raised a very important concern: Some people are lactose intolerant. They can't drink milk. And the way the legislation was written--but, actually, because of something that went back to the Truman years--there is some suggestion that is a disability. I want to thank Senator Alsobrooks, who is here, for bringing this to our attention, along with Senator Warnock, in working with us to try to get through this so that there is no question about this being a ``disability.'' This is about folks who can drink milk having access to milk, and it is about honoring our dairy farmers for the work that they do. I am really happy to be here with my colleague. I understand Senator Alsobrooks may have some questions, and I will yield to her for that purpose. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland. Ms. ALSOBROOKS. Mr. President, I thank Senator Welch and Senator Marshall and my colleagues who are here today and all the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their bipartisan work on this legislation. This legislation rightfully provides more options for parents, students, and teachers, which will benefit our children and their families. Specifically, this legislation will allow schools to provide whole milk, but it also makes it easier for parents to request that their child be provided with a milk alternative, if their child suffers from lactose intolerance. I do, however, remain concerned about the continued classification of lactose intolerance as a disability. I want to be clear that this issue predates the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and the bill does not create this problem. Lactose intolerance of some degree affects more than 50 percent of the population. The classification of lactose intolerance as a disability can cause confusion for parents, who would not refer to their lactose intolerant child as having a disability, especially given the high prevalence of lactose intolerance. So they may not realize that they can write a letter asking for their child's school to provide a milk alternative, and it creates an undue stigma. I want to thank my colleagues and their teams for their receptiveness to my concerns. I especially want to say thank you so much to Senator Welch and also to Senator Marshall, and for the discussions that we and our teams have had around them. After those discussions, I understand why my colleagues prefer not to use the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act as the vehicle to address these concerns, and therefore, I agreed to lift my hold on the bill in exchange for a commitment from my colleagues to work with me to find an appropriate legislative solution to address this longstanding problem. Again, I want to thank my colleagues and the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee for their work on this bill that ensures that schools will provide healthy milk and milk alternative options for our children. I look forward to working with you to further support the children and families in all of our States. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont. Mr. WELCH. Mr. President, I want to thank Senator Alsobrooks, as usual she is right, and there are two points. One is we want to make certain that the parents have the ability, on behalf of their children, to choose an alternative that is best for their kids. So this is not about forcing people to drink milk or depriving parents of the responsibility and power they have to make certain that their kids are healthy. So thank you so much, Senator Alsobrooks, for that. And then, secondly, the lactose intolerance point the Senator makes is valid, and that is why I am enthusiastically looking forward to working with her, so we make certain there is no stigma associated with a person who is lactose intolerant. So thank you so much for your cooperation on this, Senator, and you have my commitment to work with you to try to resolve what is an anomaly and shouldn't be there. I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas. Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleagues in emphasizing the importance of whole milk in a healthy school lunch and taking Senate action to ensure a balanced diet for school-age children. I rise today in support of S. 222, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. This legislation, as we discussed, would allow for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to, once again, offer whole and reduced-fat milk while also expanding the options for nutritious nondairy beverages. The good news is, this legislation has support in the Senate and was unanimously reported out of the Senate Agriculture Committee earlier this year. My main message today is to thank Senators Marshall and Welch along [[Page S8261]] with Senator McCormick and Fetterman for leading the bipartisan legislation and championing policies that promote a balanced diet and increased dairy consumption for students, something dietary experts who testified before the Ag Committee agree is important to their long-term health. I also appreciate the interest of my colleagues who want to ensure these changes support their constituents, and I look forward to continuing work to secure that result. I also want to thank Senator Alsobrooks for engaging in a very constructive way regarding the bill, and I look forward to continuing to work with her to try and figure out how we can go forward and deal with the comments that she has made or concerns that she has made. I was on the school board for 7 years, and these things are important. Labels are very, very important, so we appreciate you. I am proud to share a commitment also with her in supporting school meals and to lead the committee in making commonsense updates to strengthen children's capabilities Referenced legislation: S222