House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik of New York introduced legislation on Wednesday to undo some of President Joe Biden’s milk wars.
Stefanik introduced bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Access to Maternal and Infant Milk Act, to block Biden Administration rules that would restrict access to milk for women, infants, and families under the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.
“I am proud to lead the bipartisan Protecting Access to Milk for Mothers and Babies Act to combat President Joe Biden’s restrictions on WIC families’ access to nutritious milk and dairy products,” Stefanik said in a statement. “Families are already struggling with skyrocketing prices at the grocery store, and this new rule will limit access to the healthy milk that upstate and northern New York dairy farmers work so hard to provide for their communities.”
Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Rep. Derrick Van Order (R-Wis.) co-sponsored Stefanik’s bill.
In April, the Biden administration Confirm The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): WIC Food Package Revisions significantly reduced the amount of milk available to WIC households. Stefanik’s office argued that this rule could have a harmful effect on women, infants, and families in the WIC program because 90% of Americans do not meet dairy consumption requirements. according to According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
President Joe Biden enjoys a milkshake at Cookout burger restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Senator, File)
Stefanick is Led In a bipartisan letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack about the rule, and in a letter to Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), Requested Respond as to why the Department of Dairy Products did not follow Congressional direction not to reduce the maximum monthly allowance of milk under WIC.
This is not the first time the USDA has tried to restrict Americans’ access to milk. Stefanik and other House Republicans have opposed President Biden’s efforts to restrict children’s access to chocolate milk in schools across the country.
Stefanik’s bill has broad support from groups representing the dairy industry.
“The WIC program helps mothers and young children access important nutrients they may be lacking. Milk, cheese and yogurt are three of the five items most commonly exchanged through WIC, which provide three of the four nutrients of public health concern identified in the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We applaud Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) for authoring the Protecting Access to Milk for Mothers and Infants Act to prevent cuts to WIC dairy allotments. The bill supports the program’s goal of ensuring all Americans have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe and affordable food,” said Greg Dowd, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.
“Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperative represents more than 800 dairy farmers in New York and New England and has a 100-year-plus tradition of providing fresh, high-quality milk and award-winning dairy products. We applaud Rep. Stefanik’s outstanding work on behalf of producers and industry in drafting a timely bill to expand and increase access to milk in the important Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program,” said the Northeast Dairy Farmers Cooperative.
“Real milk and other dairy products are important sources of protein, vitamins and minerals that are proven to be beneficial for people of all ages. Containing 13 essential nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D, milk is a nutritious beverage produced by family-owned dairy farms throughout New York State. NEDPA fully supports consumer choice and efforts to ensure equitable access to nutritious dairy products for all New Yorkers,” said Keith Kimball, president of the Northeast Dairy Producers Association.
Sean Moran is a policy reporter for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter. Sean Moran 3.
