My view

It’s time to take a roll call

By ARDEN TEWKSBURY
Posted 11/16/21

Several years ago, when whole milk was removed from our schools, I started an effort to have it placed back in our schools.

I soon realized that this was going to be a real struggle. Right from …

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My view

It’s time to take a roll call

Posted

Several years ago, when whole milk was removed from our schools, I started an effort to have it placed back in our schools.

I soon realized that this was going to be a real struggle. Right from the start, it became obvious that the majority of people had no idea this was an issue. I made several trips to Washington, D.C. to gain support for our effort, but I soon realized that many of our efforts were in vain.

Both some U.S. Senators and U.S. members of Congress took a lackadaisical approach toward doing anything about placing whole milk back in our schools. They seemed to think that everyone has full access to whole milk, but this is not true.

Everyone’s friend, Republican Rep. GT Thompson (Pa.-15), introduced legislation twice to have whole milk, both flavored and unflavored, be available in all of our schools. The bill is named H.R. 1861.

But what about the remaining farm organizations supporting the effort of Congressman Thompson?

I hope that Farm Bureau, with its large membership, would accelerate its effort to have whole milk placed again in our schools. The PA Farm Bureau was instrumental in helping us to get the premium on milk in Pennsylvania.

What about Farmers Union? They always said they were in favor of family farms. Let’s have them support GT Thompson’s efforts.

What about the national and state granges?  Let’s have grange members make many calls to Congress all across the country.

Why hasn’t the National Family Farm Coalition asked its members to make calls in support of this bill?

I thank Nelson Troutman and his followers for their valiant efforts in their attempt to pass H.R. 1861.

There are still other organizations that should be speaking out in support of this whole milk option bill.  Listen, just talking and writing stories about the bill will not get the bill passed.  

We all must work together to get this important job done.  Remember, even if Thompson’s bill is going to pass, it still must be brought out of the House Education and Labor Committee.

So far, committee chairman Robert Scott (VA-03) has shown no interest in this bill. Scott must be convinced to bring the bill to a full House vote.

In the past, some Pro-Ag members have called upon 90 percent of the members of this committee.

With visitors not allowed into any federal buildings in Washington, you must call these members of Congress on the telephone and urge them to bring this bill, H.R. 1861, up for a vote.

Pro-Ag can be reached at 570/833-5776.

Arden Tewskbury is the manager of Pro-Ag in Meshoppen, PA.

whole milk, Farm Bureau, Farmers Union, milk bill, Pro-Ag

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