Title: A resolution expressing support for the designation of June 2021 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.
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
This resolution (1) supports the designation of June 2021 as National Dairy Month, and (2) encourages the people of the United States to visit with dairy producers to learn more about agriculture and the vital role dairy producers play in our global food system.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 268 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 268

Expressing support for the designation of June 2021 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 14, 2021

Mr. Marshall (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Hassan, Mr. 
  Crapo, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. 
  Risch, Mr. King, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Smith, Mr. Braun, Mr. Lujan, Ms. 
 Collins, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution; which 
 was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of June 2021 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 United States dairy industry serves as a key driver in the national 
        food system and supports the people of the United States both 
        nutritionally and economically;
Whereas the 2020-2025 United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans finds that 
        healthy dietary patterns feature dairy products, as such products 
        provide essential nutrients which keep the people of the United States 
        healthy and serve as a leading source of--

    (1) calcium, which helps maintain strong bones and aids in heart 
function; and

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

Whereas the 2020-2025 United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans 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;
Whereas the 2020-2025 United States Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides 
        daily recommendations for key age groups, including--

    (1) 3 cup-equivalents of dairy products for pre-teens, teenagers, and 
adults;

    (2) 2\1/2\ cups for children 4 to 8 years of age; and

    (3) 2 cups for children 2 to 4 years of age;

Whereas studies have shown that following these daily recommendations leads to 
        improved bone health and reduced risk of--

    (1) osteoporosis, which is a condition where 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;

Whereas individuals who are lactose intolerant can choose low-lactose and 
        lactose-free dairy products;
Whereas 42 percent of individuals in the United States are below their estimated 
        average requirement for calcium intake, and 94 percent are below such 
        requirement for vitamin D intake;
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, and is expected to increase to over $95,000,000,000 by 2040;
Whereas, when broken down by individual, in the year following a fracture, all-
        cause health care costs exceeded $30,000, of which an average of $3,000 
        was paid by the patient;
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 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 working families, low-income seniors, and people with 
        disabilities access nutritious foods, including dairy products;
Whereas the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement provided new opportunities and 
        continued supporting the access of high-quality 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, the United States dairy industry produced 59 
        percent more milk and reduced its carbon footprint by 63 percent with 79 
        percent fewer cows;
Whereas, in 2020, the average dairy cow in the United States produced 23,777 
        pounds (or 44,463 cups) of milk per year, an increase of 11.5 percent 
        from 2011;
Whereas milk is produced in all 50 States on 31,657 licensed dairy farms, with 
        California, Wisconsin, Idaho, New York, and Texas serving as the top 5 
        producers, producing 53 percent of the United States dairy; and
Whereas the United States dairy industry directly and indirectly provides 
        $753,000,000,000 in total economic impact to the United States and 
        supports 3,300,000 jobs: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the designation of June 2021 as ``National 
        Dairy Month'' to recognize--
                    (A) the important role dairy plays in a healthy 
                diet;
                    (B) the exceptional work of dairy producers in 
                being stewards of the land and livestock; and
                    (C) the economic impact of the United States dairy 
                industry; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to visit 
        with dairy producers to learn more about agriculture and the 
        vital role dairy producers play in our global food system.
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