Joco Today

U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) took part in a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry hearing to discuss his legislation, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The bipartisan bill aims to reintroduce whole and reduced-fat milk in American schools.

During the hearing, Senator Marshall emphasized the health benefits of whole milk and its relevance to the Make America Healthy Again movement. This movement focuses on promoting transparency, access to nutritious foods, and improving national health outcomes. Senator Marshall, who has practiced as an OB-GYN for over 25 years and is the Make America Healthy Again Caucus chairman, said, “We all came to Congress with a reason,” and expressed his desire to bring back whole milk to schools.

Reflecting on his childhood, Senator Marshall spoke about the role of whole milk in his diet. He also tied whole milk to the MAHA movement, saying, “It’s about whole foods. And I think we could characterize whole milk as part of that MAHA movement as well.”

Senator Marshall addressed the health benefits of whole milk, focusing on healthy fats and their role in hormone production and satiety. He noted, “There’s good fats that help with hormone production.” He asked Dr. Eve Stoody from the United States Department of Agriculture to comment on these benefits. Dr. Stoody acknowledged the research connecting whole milk with brain health, particularly in young children, stating, "The dietary guidelines actually recommend for those one to two years of age that plain whole milk be the type of dairy that is consumed."

The decrease in milk consumption was another focus of the hearing. Senator Marshall suggested that the removal of whole milk from school menus might be linked to decreased milk consumption. Dr. Stoody noted a national decline in milk consumption, especially in adolescents, over the past two decades.

The potential impact of reduced milk consumption on bone health was also discussed. Senator Marshall raised concerns about osteoporosis and osteopenia, highlighting the importance of reaching peak bone mass by age 28. He warned that the current generation might face bone density issues earlier due to a lack of milk consumption.