A new law bringing whole milk back into your child’s cafeteria had the fingerprints of key figures from northeast Wisconsin on it. President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act into law Wednesday, with legislators, Cabinet members and dairy industry professionals flanking him.
The new law reverses an Obama administration rule and will allow school districts to offer whole and 2% milk options alongside 1% and skim varieties. One of the bill’s co-sponsors was Rep. Tony Wied, who represents Wisconsin’s 8th District, including Door and Kewaunee counties, in the U.S. House of Representatives. He said he was proud to co-sponsor the legislation, telling the Washington Reporter that “growing children benefit from essential nutrients found in whole and 2% milk, and farmers will benefit from greater demand for their products.”
Standing alongside Trump as he signed the new law was Pagel Family Businesses Chair Jamie Witcpalek, a third-generation owner of Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy in Kewaunee. She praised the Trump administration for pushing what she called common-sense legislation, adding that research shows kids need the strong bones, energy and healthy muscles that whole milk can provide.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins suggested implementation of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act could be ready in the coming weeks.
