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With one day to go until Congress is scheduled to adjourn for the year and members return home for the holidays, the House moved down to business on Wednesday, using its crucial remaining time to pass legislation that would restore all milk to America’s schools. .
An emergency aid package to finance the wars in Ukraine and Israel is hanging in limbo, stopped by a Republican filibuster in the Senate. Bipartisan talks on how to address the increase in immigration on the U.S.-Mexico border have shown no sign of yielding a breakthrough. And lawmakers face a tough time working on more federal spending when they return after the New Year, when they have just eight business days to avoid. from the government shutdown.
But on Wednesday in the Republican-controlled House, which has reached new levels of corruption and paralysis this year, nothing was on the agenda. Instead, the vote to officially authorize an impeachment inquiry against President Biden and a resolution condemning university presidents for their testimony about addressing antisemitism, the House said arguments for and against the importance of dairy for children.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bicameral and very interesting bill,” said Representative Lloyd K. Smucker, Republican of Pennsylvania. “And let’s not lose sight of the facts here: Whole milk is the cream of the crop in delivering these key vitamins and nutrients for growing children. “
The measure, which would end the ban on high-quality milk in schools that has been in place for more than a decade, passed 330 to 99.
Recent studies overwhelmingly support the proposed bill. But the feel-good formula also had a serious political connotation, like most laws these days.
In 2010, as first lady Michelle Obama pushed for policy changes to combat childhood obesity, the school lunch rules for schools participating in the school lunch program federal was updated to include a ban on whole milk in the midst of health that children should avoid. Republicans criticized the changes at the time and, pressured by dairy and milk producing states, waited for an opportunity to reverse them.
So on Wednesday on the floor of the House, they could hardly contain their passion for the benefits of whole milk. Leading the charge was Rep. Virginia Foxx, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the Education and Personnel Committee, who opened the debate by arguing that , refusing to breastfeed children is tantamount to ruining Christmas.
“Whole milk foods, such as protein, calcium and vitamin D, provide the fuel Santa needs to travel around the world in one night,” said Ms. Foxx. “The whole breast of the hero does not count on his Christmas journey.”
“If whole milk is a good option to enhance Santa’s special trip on Christmas Eve, why isn’t it an option for American students in their living rooms?” This is the desire of Ms. Foxx, and put the question to politicians who are fighting to stop the ban.
Minus words and firm in his opposition, Representative Robert C. Scott of Virginia, the top Democrat on education, argued that whole milk is less healthy than the other is low in fat.
“Whole milk has more saturated fat, cholesterol and calories than fat-free and low-fat milk,” he says.
Other lawmakers who were determined to keep the red-covered single milk bottles out of schools argued that what Congress should really be doing is promoting non-dairy alternatives.
“Soy provides the same nutrients as whole milk,” said Representative Troy Carter, Democrat of Louisiana.
Ms. answered. Foxx has no problem with other dairy foods at school – let alone milk.
“We do not include drinking soy,” said Ms. Foxx. “It’s not the milk.” It’s a plant-based diet. It’s not milk, you can’t call it soy milk. You can call it drinking soy.”
The debate inspired some politicians to recall drinking milk in their own families. Representative Mary Miller, Republican of Illinois, said full-fat milk made her children healthy.
“I raised my seven children on whole milk, and they are all at a normal weight,” she said.
The debate produced a few moments of sarcasm, including a lot of groaning and eye rolling in response to lawmakers milking their floor time.
But his time before the four-week recess, due to the long list of unfinished business left by Congress, was too much for some lawmakers. .
Representative Seth Moulton, Democrat of Massachusetts, posted a photo on social media of a milk carton with a photo of Speaker Mike Johnson marked “Missing in Action.”
“Instead of giving aid to our friends or funding the government, today Congress voted on whether or not or not to (check details) Direct milk?” Written by Mr. Moulton, along with cow and cowboy emojis. “Like, sure, but can @SpeakerJohnson please let us vote on important things?”
He voted for it.