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[Page H4393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING ALLEN PINGEE
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the
life and service of Allen ``Al'' Pingee of Lewis Run. Al passed away on
Tuesday, April 23, at his home, surrounded by his family.
Al was a McKean County commissioner at the time of his death, and I
flew a flag over the United States Capitol to be presented to Al's
family and his colleagues.
Prior to becoming a commissioner, Al was a member of the city of
Bradford professional firefighters and retired as a captain in 1988. He
then served as Bradford Township supervisor for 14 years, 11 of those
years as chairman.
Al was a proud Vietnam veteran. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps
and was honorably discharged as a corporal in September 1970.
Mr. Speaker, Al Pingee has served his Nation and his community.
Above all else, he was a family man, a loving husband of 36 years to
his wife, Deborah, and father to his four children, Andy, Scott, Jeff,
and Jodie. He was a grandfather, a brother, and a friend to many.
We remember Al Pingee for his exceptional service to others.
May he rest in peace.
Recognizing National Dairy Month
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize
June as National Dairy Month.
Dairy products like milk contain nine essential nutrients that may
help reduce the risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and certain
cancers. Whether it is a protein to help build and repair the muscle
tissue of active bodies or Vitamin A to help maintain healthy skin,
dairy products are a natural nutrient powerhouse.
National Dairy Month started out as National Milk Month in 1937 to
stabilize the dairy demand when the production was at a surplus. Now,
it has developed into an annual tradition that celebrates the
contributions the dairy industry has made to the world.
Proudly, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is one of the largest milk-
producing States in the Nation. I have a bill called the Whole Milk for
Healthy Kids Act, which would allow for whole milk, both flavored and
nonflavored, to be offered in school cafeterias.
Just last week, I introduced the School Milk Nutrition Act with
Congressman Joe Courtney to expand milk options for students and
reverse the decline of milk consumption in our schools. Our bill
reaffirms recent regulation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture by
providing schools with the option to serve low-fat milk with flavor and
requires that the milk offered is consistent with the most recent
Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
In November 2017, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced
regulatory changes for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast
Programs, including a provision that provides schools with the option
to serve low-fat 1 percent flavored milk.
The School Milk Nutrition Act for 2019 will codify this milk
provision and will maintain the option for schools to offer low-fat 1
percent flavored milk if it is consistent with the most recent Dietary
Guidelines for Americans.
I urge my colleagues to sign on to these bills during National Dairy
Month and allow our students the option of consuming the type of milk
that they love and to receive the nutrition that they need.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to being, a week from today, in our State
capital of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at 11 a.m. for a rally with all
the advocates for nutrition for children and certainly for dairy
farming, as we rally for whole milk for healthy kids.
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