Following implementation of a rule from last year that restricted low-income families’ access to milk in grocery stores, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) on Monday introduced bipartisan legislation to protect consumers’ ability to buy milk using their WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) benefits.

Nearly one million low-income Californians receive food assistance through the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. However, a rule finalized last year from the U.S. Department of Agriculture restricted the amount of milk available to these parents, limiting their options at a time when 90 percent of the U.S. does not get enough dairy in their diet. Harder’s Protecting Mothers and Infants’ Access to Milk Act introduced on Feb. 24 is a simple fix that restores the pre-rule dairy allowance for WIC recipients, ensuring shoppers can make the best decision for their families.

“As a dad and a consumer, it’s absurd to me that the government would choose to limit parents’ ability to buy healthy milk for their kids,” said Rep. Harder. “This bipartisan bill restores families’ choice in the grocery aisle and makes sure that our local dairy farmers can keep our families well-fed.”

Food assistance programs not only help low-income families, they also support agriculture communities and farmers by boosting spending on local produce, Harder said. Restoring full access to dairy products helps support families, farmers, and the local economies that power the Valley’s agriculture industry.