An amendment to the fiscal year 2017 Defense Authorization Bill failed to be included in the final measure. The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association backed the provision offered by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. It would have mandated consistent access to all forms of protein in U.S. Armed Forces Facilities including meat. USCA President and South Dakota producer Danni Beer says they’ll try to get the measure revived.

She says meat contains proteins important to a healthy diet and those in the armed forces deserve to have that option available to them.

Beer says her group will continue fighting for getting meat into the diets of those serving in the armed forces.

Beer points out that meals without meat do not provide adequate nutrition for our armed forces as provided by the 2015-2016 Dietary guidelines for all Americans.