Bob Casey legislation to boost dairy sector and food access

By Blake Jackson

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has joined forces with bipartisan colleagues to introduce legislation aimed at supporting Pennsylvania's dairy farmers and increasing access to nutritious dairy products for low-income families.

The proposed Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act seeks to enhance the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by promoting the purchase of nutrient-dense dairy items such as yogurt and cheese.

This new program would build upon the existing Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives program, expanding benefits to include a wider range of dairy products.

Under this act, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would create strategies to boost dairy consumption and provide grants to states and nonprofits to help families afford these products.

Additionally, the DAIRY PRIDE Act aims to improve dairy product labeling standards to ensure consumers can easily distinguish between dairy and non-dairy alternatives.

This legislation will direct the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop updated guidelines for labeling and to prevent misleading use of dairy-related terms like “milk,” “yogurt,” or “cheese” on non-dairy products.

The act will also require the FDA to report back to Congress on its enforcement of these new standards.

Senator Casey emphasized the importance of supporting Pennsylvania’s dairy sector, stating, “From boosting our economy to feeding our families, Pennsylvania dairy farmers keep the Commonwealth going. 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.”

In the past, Casey has advocated for various measures to aid farmers, including expanding dairy margin coverage and enhancing conservation programs.

He is also pushing for further food insecurity legislation in the upcoming Farm Bill, such as the Senior Hunger Prevention Act and the Farmers Feeding America Act.

The Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act is supported by Senators Amy Klobuchar, Roger Marshall, John Fetterman, Peter Welch, Tina Smith, Ben Ray Luján, Kirsten Gillibrand, Katie Britt, and Mike Crapo.

The DAIRY PRIDE Act has backing from Senators Tammy Baldwin, James Risch, Susan Collins, Peter Welch, Angus King, Debbie Stabenow, Tina Smith, Ben Ray Luján, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, John Fetterman, Mike Rounds, Pete Ricketts, Mike Crapo, and Roger Marshall.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-vm