Heinrich Legislation to Ensure New Mexico Schools Offer More Dairy & Non-Dairy Options Heads to White House

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration, welcomed the House passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, legislation he cosponsored that will allow schools to provide more dairy options and non-dairy alternatives for school lunches.

Currently, schools participating in the National School Lunch Program must provide milk that is consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which means that schools can only provide fat-free or low-fat milk. Heinrich's Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act will alter that restriction and allow schools to offer whole milk, reduced-fat milk, and non-dairy beverages, in addition to fat-free and low-fat milk.

Earlier this month, Heinrich secured Senate passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The legislation now heads to the White House.

"Every student in New Mexico and across the country deserves access to school meals that work for their needs. I'm proud that legislation I cosponsored to ensure schools can offer a wider range of dairy options, including non-dairy alternatives, has passed both chambers of Congress and is now headed to the White House," said Heinrich. "This bipartisan bill is a meaningful step forward, making it easier for families to request alternatives for children who are lactose intolerant, while continuing to support our state's dairy producers and agricultural workers. I urge the president to quickly sign this bill into law so New Mexico students and schools can benefit from these improvements."

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is led by U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Alongside Heinrich, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators David McCormick (R-Pa.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Angus King (I-Maine), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.).

"Dairy Producers of New Mexico celebrates the congressional passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, not only for the nutritional improvement American school kids will be able to receive, but also for our dairy farmers in New Mexico and across the country. Studies have shown that children perform better in school when they have access to nutrient-rich meals, and milk has proven to be a super-food with 13 essentials vitamins and nutrients that lead to better health and stronger kids," said Beverly Idsinga, Executive Director of the Dairy Producers of New Mexico. "Parents, nutritionists, and dairy farmers have been advocating for this legislation for over a decade, and we applaud the efforts of the bill's sponsors and cosponsors, especially the New Mexico delegation. We would like to give a special thanks to Senator Martin Heinrich and his staff for cosponsoring and keeping in touch with us during this process. Senator Heinrich values the efforts of New Mexico family dairy farmers and we appreciate the changes this legislation will bring to child nutrition in schools."

The text of the bill is here.

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