[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 126 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONSOLIDATION OF MILK MARKETING ORDERS

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                               speech of

                            HON. BILL LUTHER

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1402) to 
     require the Secretary of Agriculture to implement the Class I 
     milk price structure known as Option 1A as part of the 
     implementation of the final rule to consolidate Federal milk 
     marketing orders:

  Mr. LUTHER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1402, 
legislation to consolidate Federal Milk Marketing Orders. I grew up on 
a small, family dairy farm near Fergus Falls, Minnesota and understand 
how the current antiquated dairy pricing system discriminates against 
the family farms in the Midwest. In 1996, this Congress passed the 
Freedom to Farm Act, legislation that seriously affected American 
family farmers. Freedom to Farm has not worked out as its authors had 
said it would, but part of the bill called for a more market-oriented 
dairy pricing system. In other words, the Freedom to Farm Act 
encouraged the Department of Agriculture to do exactly what it has 
proposed: develop a pricing system that does not penalize Midwestern 
states.
  For too long, farmers in Minnesota and other states in the Upper 
Midwest have suffered from unfair dairy prices. Instead of correcting 
this problem, H.R. 1402 forces us to remain in this regime. This bill 
also forces us to maintain a price support system that jeopardizes our 
ability to negotiate international trade agreements for agricultural 
products. Before we can make progress on trade issues, we must set an 
example by moving toward a market-oriented dairy pricing system. I 
encourage my colleagues to reject the old way of doing things in 
Washington, support regional equity in the dairy industry and vote 
against the legislation before us today.

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