Congressman Thomas Massie | Official U.S. House headshot
Congressman Thomas Massie | Official U.S. House headshot
Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) has announced the introduction of H.R. 8374, the Interstate Milk Freedom Act. This bill aims to prohibit federal interference with the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products that are packaged for direct human consumption.
"Executive branch agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), do not and should not have the power to shut down trade between peaceful farmers and willing consumers," said Rep. Massie. "It is Congress's job to legislate. The Interstate Milk Freedom Act would make it easier for families to buy the milk of their choice by reversing the criminalization of specific dairy farmers."
The proposed legislation stipulates that if two states have legalized the sale of unpasteurized milk, federal departments, agencies, or courts cannot take any action to prohibit or restrict the traffic of milk between those two states. Notably, while Congress has never passed a ban on raw milk, in response to a lawsuit decided in 1986, the FDA issued a regulation banning the interstate sale of raw milk.
The Interstate Milk Freedom Act was previously introduced as an amendment to the 2018 Farm Bill and also as a standalone bill in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2021.
Original cosponsors of H.R. 8374 include Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), and Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA).
Rep. Massie owns 50 head of cattle on his off-the-grid farm in northeast Kentucky. The text of the Interstate Milk Freedom Act is available at this link.
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