June 26 2024 04:54 PM

    Bill introduced today aims to increase the amount of milk eligible in WIC program

    The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

    Edge applauds Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) and Josh Harder (D-CA) in their bipartisan effort to return the amount of milk available to WIC families to the maximum monthly allowance for low-income moms and babies to previous levels. The bill, known as the Protecting Mothers and Infants Access to Milk Act, would restore the maximum daily limit of dairy products allowed in the WIC program previously reduced through a proposed rule put forth by the Biden Administration.

    Brody Stapel

    “Providing adequate amounts of dairy products to the WIC program is fundamental to ensuring families have healthy and nutritious choices at home,” said Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative President Brody Stapel. “We applaud Reps. Stefanik, Van Orden and Harder’s leadership in putting the dairy levels back where they need to be. We appreciate their common-sense approach to this legislation and extend our support to their efforts. As we move into more farm bill discussions, we need more bipartisan and supportive actions like this to come forward.”

    The bill introduced looks to reverse the rule, “Specialized Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC): Revisions in the WIC Food Packages” which substantially reduced the amount of milk available to WIC families. The final rule went into effect on June 17, 2024.

    We must ensure women, infants, and children are fed and healthy, which is why I am proud to join Rep. Stefanik in introducing this legislation to restore the WIC maximum monthly allowances for milk, which should have never been cut in the first place, said Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) in a release.


    About Edge:

    Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wis., is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. More information: www.voiceofmilk.com.