[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1025-S1026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. COCHRAN (for himself, Mr. Coverdell, and Mr. Helms):
  S. 277. A bill to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act to restore 
the effectiveness of certain provisions regulating Federal milk 
marketing orders; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry.


               FEDERAL MILK MARKETING ORDERS LEGISLATION

 Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation 
to reauthorize seasonal base plans for Federal milk marketing orders.
  This program encourages dairy farmers to stabilize their milk 
production seasonally. This results in more stable production in the 
fall and winter, when there is an economic disincentive for dairy 
farmers to produce milk, and thereby ensures stable milk prices to 
consumers.
  Mr. President, this is a matter of fairness. Seasonal base plans were 
instituted under the Agricultural Act of 1933. Currently, seasonal base 
plans are included in five Federal milk marketing orders that affect 
producers in 25 States. Without extension of this authority 
expeditiously, dairy producers

[[Page S1026]]

in those five orders who adjusted their production last fall will 
receive lower average prices while those who made no adjustments will 
receive higher average prices.
  This is not a new issue to my colleagues. In fact, during 
consideration of the fiscal year 1997 Agriculture Appropriations Act, 
the Senate approved the extension of seasonal base plan authority until 
the year 2002. The 1996 farm bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture 
to submit a reform plan for Federal milk marketing orders by 1999 and 
this bill reauthorizes the base excess plans until 1999. This will 
ensure that the market environment the Secretary was directed to reform 
exists until he has a chance to submit his plan.
  I hope my colleagues will support this legislation.
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