119-hr4742

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4742 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4742

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

 July 23, 2025

 Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Deluzio) introduced 
 the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education 
 and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

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.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Giving Increased Variety to Ensure 
Milk Into the Lives of Kids Act'' or the ``GIVE MILK Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds the following:

    (1) Most Americans, including most children and 
 adolescents, do not consume adequate levels of dairy, on 
 average consuming only about half of the recommended amounts of 
 dairy foods daily.

    (2) Milk is a source of many nutrients essential to health, 
 and is the leading source of calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and 
 phosphorus for children ages 2-18 and is a source of thirteen 
 essential nutrients (calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin D 
 (in fortified products), riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B12, 
 protein, potassium, zinc, choline, magnesium, and selenium) in 
 the diets of children and adolescents, including three 
 nutrients of public health concern: vitamin D, calcium, and 
 potassium.

    (3) Dairy foods are associated with improved bone health, a 
 lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a beneficial or neutral effect 
 on blood pressure, and may help reduce the risk of 
 cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

    (4) In a September 2019 report on beverage recommendations 
 for early childhood, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 
 American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, American Academy of 
 Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association found that--
        (A) medical professionals are in agreement that 
 whole milk is good for childhood development between 
 ages one and two;
        (B) skim and low-fat milk are recommended for young 
 children;
            (C) plant-based, non-dairy milks are not 
 recommended for young children; and
            (D) an expert panel under the study recognized that 
 there has been recent research and discussion regarding 
 the role of dairy fat in healthy dietary patterns but 
 in the absence of clear evidence justifying a departure 
 from current recommendations, such expert panel chose 
 to remain consistent with current guidance recommending 
 whole milk for most children ages 12-24 months and fat-
 free

    (skim) or low-fat (1 percent) milk for children 
 ages 2 years and older.

    (5) The 2020 through 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans 
 recommendation of the number of dairy servings for young 
 children is--
        (A) 1.5 to 2 servings for 12 to 23 months; and
        (B) 2 to 2.5 servings for 2 to 4 years.

SEC. 3. WIC ELECTION FOR TYPE OF MILK.

    (a) Election for Type of Milk.--

Section 17

    (f) of the Child 
Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786

    (f) ) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
 ``

    (27) Election for type of milk.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
 provision of law, in the case of an individual 
 participating in the program authorized by this section 
 who is issued milk by the Secretary, such individual 
 (or the parent or guardian of such individual) may 
 elect to be issued nonfat milk, low-fat milk, reduced 
 fat milk, or whole milk.
 ``
        (B) Election.--The Secretary shall issue the type 
 of milk elected by an individual under subparagraph
        (A) to such individual.''.

    (b) Revision of Regulations.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
revise regulations in accordance with the amendments made by this 
section, including revision of 

section 246.10 of title 7, Code of 
Federal Regulations.
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