III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 284 

Expressing support for the designation of June 2023 as ‘‘National Dairy 

Month’’ to recognize the important role dairy plays in a healthy diet 

and the exceptional work of dairy producers in being stewards of the 

land and livestock. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 22, 2023 

Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself, Mr. MARSHALL, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. CORNYN, 

Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. KING, Mr. 

RISCH, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. WELCH, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Ms. 

SMITH, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. BRAUN) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of June 2023 as 

‘‘National Dairy Month’’ to recognize the important role 

dairy plays in a healthy diet and the exceptional work 

of dairy producers in being stewards of the land and 

livestock. 

Whereas the dairy industry of the United States serves as a 

key driver in the national food system and supports the 

people of the United States both nutritionally and economically; 

Whereas the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans 

published under section 301 of the National Nutrition 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 284 IS 

Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 

5341)— 

(1) finds that healthy dietary patterns feature dairy 

products, as such products provide essential nutrients 

that keep the people of the United States healthy and 

serve as a leading source of— 

(A) calcium, which helps maintain strong bones 

and aids in heart function; and 

(B) vitamin D, which aids in calcium absorption; 

(2) finds that some products sold as ‘‘milks’’ made 

from plants may be consumed as a source of calcium, but 

most plant products are not nutritionally similar to milk 

from dairy cows; and 

(3) provides daily recommendations of dairy products for key age groups, including— 

(A) 3 cup-equivalents for pre-teens, teenagers, 

and adults; 

(B) 21⁄2 cup-equivalents for children 4 to 8 

years of age; and 

(C) 2 cup-equivalents for children 2 to 4 years 

of age; 

Whereas studies have shown that following the daily recommendations of dairy products provided in the Dietary 

Guidelines for Americans leads to improved bone health 

and reduced risk of— 

(1) osteoporosis, which is a condition in which bones 

become more fragile over time and more prone to fractures; and 

(2) cardiovascular diseases, which are a group of 

disorders of the heart and blood vessels that lead to heart 

attacks and strokes and are among the leading causes of 

death in the United States; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 284 IS 

Whereas individuals who are lactose intolerant can choose 

low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products; 

Whereas 42 percent of individuals in the United States take 

in less than their estimated average required amount of 

calcium, and 94 percent take in less than their estimated 

average required amount of vitamin D; 

Whereas a global study of more than 136,000 adults from 21 

countries found that consuming at least 2 servings of 

dairy products per day is associated with lower risk for 

heart disease, stroke, and death; 

Whereas the annual all-inclusive expense of providing care for 

osteoporotic fractures among Medicare beneficiaries was 

an estimated $57,000,000,000 in 2018— 

(1) which, when broken down by individual, represents all-cause health care costs exceeding $30,000 in 

the year following a fracture, of which the patient paid 

an average of $3,000; and 

(2) is expected to increase to more than 

$95,000,000,000 by 2040; 

Whereas Congress authorized dairy products as eligible foods 

under the special supplemental nutrition program for 

women, infants, and children program under section 17 

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

which safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk 

by providing nutritious foods, including dairy products, to 

supplement diets; 

Whereas Congress authorized the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and Nutrition Act of 

2008 (7 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.), which helps low-income 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 284 IS 

working families, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities access nutritious foods, including dairy products; 

Whereas the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4501 et seq.) provided new opportunities and continued to support the access of highquality United States products to 2 valuable export markets; 

Whereas dairy production efficiently and affordably provides 

essential nutrients, while only contributing to 1.3 percent 

of the greenhouse gas emissions of the United States; 

Whereas, between 1944 and 2007, advancements allowed the 

dairy industry of the United States to produce 59 percent 

more milk with 79 percent fewer cows and reduce its carbon footprint by 63 percent; 

Whereas, in 2022, the average dairy cow in the United States 

produced 24,087 pounds (or 46,180 cups) of milk per 

year; 

Whereas 27,932 licensed dairy farms produce milk in all 50 

States, with California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York, and 

Texas serving as the top 5 producers, producing 53 percent of the dairy in the United States; and 

Whereas the dairy industry of the United States directly and 

indirectly provides $793,750,000,000 in total economic 

impact to the United States and supports 3,200,000 jobs: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of June 2023 as 

3 ‘‘National Dairy Month’’ to recognize— 

4 (A) the important role dairy plays in a 

5 healthy diet; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 284 IS 

1 (B) the exceptional work of dairy pro2 ducers in being stewards of the land and live3 stock; and 

4 (C) the economic impact of the United 

5 States dairy industry; and 

6 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

7 to visit with dairy producers to learn more about ag8 riculture and the vital role dairy producers play in 

9 the global food system. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS