Casey Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Support Dairy Farmers, Help Pennsylvanians Eat More Dairy

Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act will support the purchase of more nutrient-rich dairy products, help Pennsylvania dairy farmers by supporting healthy dairy production

DAIRY PRIDE Act will provide consumers clarity when choosing dairy products at the grocery store

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) cosponsored bipartisan legislation to support Pennsylvania dairy farmers and help low-income families purchase more healthy dairy products. The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act will create a program within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help families purchase and consume more nutrient-rich dairy products including yogurt and cheese. The Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (DAIRY PRIDE) Act will clarify dairy product labeling requirements to help consumers better understand differences in nutritional value when making choices at the grocery store. These two bills have garnered robust support from senators on both sides of the aisle.

"From boosting our economy to feeding our families, Pennsylvania dairy farmers keep the Commonwealth going," said Senator Casey. "Supporting agriculture is critical to making sure we all can put healthy food on the table. I will always fight to make sure that families have access to nutritious meals and our farmers have the support they need."

The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act will help more Pennsylvanians meet their dairy consumption recommendations. This legislation would expand upon the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives program, which promotes milk purchases for SNAP participants, to include products like cheese and yogurt. The bill will create the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program, which would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop methods to increase the consumption of naturally nutrient-rich dairy products and provide grants for states and nonprofits to help families buy these products.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act will reinforce existing dairy product labeling requirements, ensuring clarity and accuracy in product labeling. This would prevent companies for labeling products with dairy terms including "milk, yogurt, or cheese" when describing products that are not from dairy animals. This legislation will require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop new guidelines to clearly distinguish dairy and nondairy products and help customers understand the nutrition profiles of their choices. Additionally, this bill will require FDA to update Congress on its enforcement efforts.

Senator Casey has long pushed to help Pennsylvania farmers feed families. In 2018, Casey championed provisions in the Farm Bill to expand dairy margin coverage, protect crop coverage, strengthen the community safety net, and make conservation programs more accessible. Since then, Casey has delivered historic investments to Pennsylvania farmers to support everything from climate-smart agriculture, to reducing operational costs. Additionally, Senator Casey is pushing for legislation to fight food insecurity to be included in the upcoming Farm Bill. Those include the Senior Hunger Prevention Act and Senior Nutrition Task Force Act, which set up programs to prevent hunger among seniors, and the Farmers Feeding America Act, Farm to Food Bank Reauthorization Act,and Healthy Food Financing Initiative Reauthorization Act, which would increase access to food in underserved communities.

The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Mike Crapo (R-ID).

The DAIRY PRIDE Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), James Risch (R-ID), Susan Collins (R-ME), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angus King (I-ME), Debbie Stabenow (D, MI), Tina Smith (D-NM), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and Roger Marshall (R-KS).

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