Strengthening our Servicemembers with Milk Act

Bill Number

H.R. 648

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Armed Forces and National Security

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-23: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

Last Updated

2025-06-07T08:06:28Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The "Strengthening our Servicemembers with Milk Act" (H.R. 648) aims to ensure that members of the U.S. Armed Forces have access to a variety of milk options at dining facilities on military installations, promoting nutritional support for servicemembers.

Key Provisions

• Mandate for Milk Provision: The Secretary of Defense must supply fluid or powdered milk to Armed Forces members at all dining facilities located on military bases.
• Variety of Options: Milk must be available in multiple forms, including:
• Unflavored or flavored.
• Organic or non-organic.
• Whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, or fat-free.
• Lactose-free.
• Any combinations of these varieties.
• Procurement Restrictions: Purchases cannot be made from any entity owned or controlled by a "foreign adversary," as defined by the Secretary of Commerce under federal regulations (15 CFR § 7.4 or successor rules). This ensures sourcing from non-adversarial suppliers.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• This bill introduces a new federal requirement for the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide specific dairy products at military dining facilities, which was not previously mandated by law.
• It adds procurement safeguards to align with national security interests by prohibiting dealings with foreign adversaries, building on existing trade and defense regulations without altering them directly.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The DoD will need to update supply chains and budgets for dining facilities to include diverse milk options, potentially increasing operational costs but enhancing compliance with nutritional standards.
• On Citizens (Servicemembers): Improves access to preferred milk varieties, supporting dietary needs (e.g., for lactose intolerance or health preferences) and overall well-being in military settings.
• On International Relations: Reinforces U.S. policy against economic reliance on foreign adversaries (e.g., certain countries deemed threats), which could indirectly affect global trade in dairy products by favoring domestic or allied suppliers.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Armed Forces Members: Primary beneficiaries, gaining better nutritional choices at no personal cost.
• Department of Defense and Military Installations: Responsible for implementation, including sourcing and distribution.
• Dairy Suppliers and Industry: U.S.-based producers and distributors may see increased demand, while those linked to foreign adversaries are excluded.
• Secretary of Commerce: Plays a supporting role in defining "foreign adversaries" for procurement decisions.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Establishes a clear directive under defense authority (Title 10, U.S. Code, potentially), with enforcement tied to existing regulatory definitions of foreign adversaries, reducing ambiguity in sourcing.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate the military and appropriations (Article I, Section 8), without raising privacy, free speech, or other rights concerns.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan support (introduced by multiple representatives) for military welfare and national security in procurement, potentially setting a precedent for mandating specific foods in federal programs to address servicemember needs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

Cosponsors (31)

Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14], Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15], Rep. Kelly, Trent [R-MS-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Messmer, Mark [R-IN-8], Rep. Steil, Bryan [R-WI-1], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3], Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Finstad, Brad [R-MN-1], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8], Rep. Ogles, Andrew [R-TN-5], Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6], Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2], Rep. Langworthy, Nicholas A. [R-NY-23], Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9], Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3], Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large], Rep. Fitzgerald, Scott [R-WI-5], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-23: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
• 2025-01-23: Introduced in House
• 2025-01-23: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Strengthening our Servicemembers with Milk Act — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (2 pages)