H.R. 649: Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025
Sponsor
Glenn Thompson
Republican · PA-15
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jun 5, 2025
Placed on House floor schedule, Calendar No. 111.
Your kid's school lunch could get whole milk back
Why it matters
Millions of school lunches are shaped by federal nutrition rules, and H.R. 649 would let schools serve whole milk, flavored whole milk, and lactose-free milk again. It also says milk fat in those drinks would no longer count against school meal saturated-fat limits.
H.R. 649 would expand the milk choices schools can offer in the federal lunch program. Instead of a narrower menu, schools could serve flavored and unflavored whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free milk, plus lactose-free milk, whether organic or not.
The bill also changes the nutrition math. It says the fat in fluid milk would not count as saturated fat when schools are measured against federal meal standards, making it easier for a school to add whole milk without that choice affecting its saturated-fat totals.
There are two other pieces. Schools would still have to provide a milk substitute for a student whose disability restricts their diet, but only after getting a written note from a licensed physician, parent, or legal guardian that identifies the disability and names the substitute.
H.R. 649 also says USDA could not block the milk types listed in the bill, and schools in the lunch program could not buy or offer milk produced by a China state-owned enterprise.
H.R. 649 Bill Summary
What H.R. 649 actually does.
Schools can offer whole and flavored whole milk
Schools in the federal lunch program could offer flavored and unflavored whole milk, along with reduced-fat, low-fat, fat-free, and lactose-free milk, whether organic or non-organic.
Lactose-free milk stays on the menu
The bill specifically allows lactose-free fluid milk as one of the permitted options for schools participating in the lunch program.
Milk fat no longer counts against saturated-fat limits
When schools are checked for compliance with federal meal standards, the fat in fluid milk would be excluded from the saturated-fat calculation.
Parents can submit disability substitute notes
A school would have to provide a milk substitute for a student whose disability restricts their diet after receiving a written statement from a licensed physician, parent, or legal guardian identifying the disability and the substitute needed.
Schools cannot buy milk from certain Chinese state-owned producers
The bill directs USDA to bar participating schools from purchasing or offering milk produced by a China state-owned enterprise.
USDA cannot ban the listed milk choices
The Agriculture Secretary would be blocked from prohibiting schools in the lunch program from offering the milk options named in H.R. 649.
Who benefits from H.R. 649?
Students in school lunch lines
Students could see more options at lunch, including whole milk, flavored whole milk, and lactose-free milk instead of a more limited federal menu.
Parents who want fuller-fat milk options at school
If you already buy whole milk at home, this bill could make that same choice available in your child's cafeteria.
School meal planners
Food service staff would get more flexibility because milk fat would no longer count toward saturated-fat compliance for school meals.
Students with diet-restricting disabilities
They would keep a guaranteed path to a milk substitute, and the bill lets a parent or guardian provide the written statement instead of relying only on a physician.
Who is affected by H.R. 649?
Schools in the National School Lunch Program
Schools would decide whether to add whole milk and other newly protected options, collect substitute paperwork when needed, and avoid milk covered by the China sourcing ban.
USDA
USDA would have less discretion over which fluid milk options schools may offer and would have to enforce the bill's sourcing restriction.
Milk suppliers tied to Chinese state ownership
Those producers would be excluded from sales to schools participating in the federal lunch program.
Advocates of current school nutrition standards
They could see a meaningful policy shift because H.R. 649 changes how saturated fat from milk is counted under school meal rules.
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 649 has come up 28 times in the Congressional Record so far.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 649, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, legislation to permit schools to provide whole milk at school lunches. School children throughout our country are unable to receive the health benefits and the nutrients that whole milk provides due to out- of-date regulations that limit the type of milk that students can drink at lunch. As a doctor, I know how important a diet that includes whole milk is to ensure that our Nation's kids have the building blocks to build strong bones, strong muscles, and strong brains.
H.R. 649 also appeared in 21 routine cosponsor filings.
HR649 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jun 5, 2025
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-142.
House: Vote: 24-10
Feb 12, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 10.
House: Committee Action
Jan 23, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
About the Sponsor
Glenn Thompson
Republican, Pennsylvania's 15th congressional district · 17 years in Congress
Committees: Agriculture, Education and Workforce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (118)
This bill has 118 cosponsors: 38 Democrats, 80 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 38 states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, and 35 more.
Kim Schrier
Democrat · WA
Brad Finstad
Republican · MN
Angie Craig
Democrat · MN
Jill Tokuda
Democrat · HI
Scott Franklin
Republican · FL
Daniel Meuser
Republican · PA
Ron Estes
Republican · KS
Charles Fleischmann
Republican · TN
Mary Miller
Republican · IL
Kat Cammack
Republican · FL
Austin Scott
Republican · GA
Derrick Van Orden
Republican · WI
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Education and Workforce Committee
19 of 37 committee members cosponsored
4 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 649 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Education and Workforce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Agriculture and Food
- Introduced
- Jan 23, 2025
Placed on House floor schedule, Calendar No. 111.
Jun 5, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with text, status, sponsors, and actions for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service page for the federal school lunch program that H.R. 649 would amend.
Current federal regulation for school meal nutrition standards, including the provision the bill references for saturated fat compliance.
Official U.S. Code section amended by H.R. 649 to change what milk schools may offer.
USDA overview of school meal nutrition standards that provides policy context for the bill's change to milk fat treatment.
Federal dietary guidance often used as the basis for school nutrition policy and debates over fat and dairy standards.
Parent agency site for the school meal programs and the Secretary's authority discussed in the bill.
H.R. 649 Common Questions
Would H.R. 649 let schools serve whole milk again?
Yes. H.R. 649 says schools in the federal lunch program could offer whole milk again, including flavored and unflavored versions.
Does H.R. 649 allow 2% milk in school lunches?
Yes. The bill allows reduced-fat milk, which includes 2% milk, along with whole, low-fat, fat-free, and lactose-free options.
Would flavored whole milk be allowed at school?
Yes. H.R. 649 specifically allows flavored and unflavored whole milk in schools that participate in the lunch program.
Does the bill change how schools count saturated fat?
Yes. H.R. 649 says fat in fluid milk would not count toward the saturated-fat limits used to measure school meal compliance.
Can parents write the note for a milk substitute?
Yes. Under H.R. 649, a parent or legal guardian could submit the written statement for a student whose disability restricts their diet.
What has to be in a milk substitute note under H.R. 649?
The note must identify the student's disability and specify which substitute the student needs instead of fluid milk.
Could USDA still ban whole milk in schools if this passes?
No. H.R. 649 says the Agriculture Secretary may not prohibit schools in the lunch program from offering the milk types listed in the bill.
Does H.R. 649 ban milk from Chinese state-owned companies?
Yes. The bill says schools in the lunch program could not purchase or offer milk produced by a China state-owned enterprise.
Based on H.R. 649 bill text
H.R. 649 Bill Text
“To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow schools that participate in the school lunch program under such Act to serve whole milk.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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