Congressman Thomas Tiffany | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Thomas Tiffany | Official U.S. House headshot
WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, Congressman Tom Tiffany's bipartisan amendment to prevent the Biden administration from banning chocolate milk in schools passed by voice vote. The amendment will be included in H.R. 4368, the Agriculture Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
Tiffany's amendment specifically ensures that none of the funds in the Agriculture Appropriations Act would support a rule that bans flavored milk in schools. The Biden administration had proposed new nutrition standards for school meals that could limit the availability of flavored milk, such as chocolate and strawberry, in high schools. Elementary and middle school students may be restricted to unflavored milk.
Earlier this year, Representative Tiffany introduced H.R. 3930, the Milk is Indisputably Liked by Kids (MILK) Act of 2023. This act aims to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to ensure continued student access to flavored milk.
“According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, removing flavored milk from schools resulted in a significant reduction in milk consumption by kids in kindergarten through eighth grade. Milk is rich in nutrients that support bone growth and development, and millions of children enjoy drinking it. We should not be funding rules that would limit our children's access to delicious and nutritious products like milk. I urge my colleagues to vote yes on this bipartisan amendment and I reserve,” said Congressman Tom Tiffany.
Cosponsors of Congressman Tiffany's bipartisan chocolate milk amendment include Representatives Andy Ogles (R-TN), Mary Miller (R-IL), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Scott Perry (R-PA), Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Glenn Grothman (R-WI).
In support of his amendment, Congressman Tiffany expressed his concerns about an overreaching federal government. He criticized the government's focus on regulating the milk served in schools while neglecting issues such as border security, energy independence, and inflation.
“When you have a federal government that believes that they need to regulate the milk that is served in our kids’ schools across America, you have a federal government that is out of control. What in the world are they doing trying to regulate what milk is served in our kids’ schools?” said Congressman Tom Tiffany.
Representative Tiffany concluded his remarks by emphasizing his commitment to fighting for milk in America's schools, as he comes from America's Dairyland.
For more information:
Congress.gov - Tiffany's Bipartisan Amendment
Congress.gov - Agriculture Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Congressman Tiffany's Press Release - MILK Act of 2023
YouTube - Congressman Tiffany's Floor Remarks (Video 1)
YouTube - Congressman Tiffany's Floor Remarks (Video 2)
American Dietetic Association - Impact of Removing Flavored Milk from Schools
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