[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 166 (Monday, November 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2528]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 3194, CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS AND 
             DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

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                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN E. SWEENEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. SWEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the opportunity 
to address a most important issue for our nation's dairy farmers.
  The federal milk marketing order program is the life-blood of dairy 
farmers throughout the nation and is a program that has long enjoyed 
strong, bipartisan support.
  Mr. Speaker, I have been at the forefront of this dairy effort since 
the first day I came to this Congress and have worked hard with our 
bipartisan coalition from across the country to address this critical 
issue to the agricultural economy.
  I want to explain that we are here today advancing dairy legislation 
because our dairy industry is in a crisis.
  The Secretary of Agriculture calls the Administration's dairy reforms 
fair, yet it imposes hundreds of millions of dollars in losses in 45 
states. This cannot be considered fair and I commend our leaders for 
responding to this crisis with a common sense compromise.
  Dairy reform was not meant to be dairy income reduction. This package 
today restores what has been taken out of the pockets of dairy farmers 
throughout the country.
  Do not forget that 285 members of this body, Republicans and 
Democrats, voted for the bulk of this dairy legislation--H.R. 1402--in 
September of this year.
  The agreement also extends the life of the current New England 
Compact, which has proven over the past few years to be an effective 
model for providing much-needed stability to the dairy farmers.
  This agreement affirms the idea that we should be supporting our 
states in their efforts to assist their agricultural economies.
  Contrary to some of the rhetoric we've heard, this dairy package does 
not turn dairy reform on its head and nor does it bring the end to the 
dairy industry in the Upper Midwest, or anywhere else for that matter.
  Keep in mind that the Upper Midwest receives some of the highest on-
farm milk prices in the entire country.
  With this legislation, dairy reforms will be implemented as intended 
in the Farm Bill--the number of marketing orders are consolidated and 
much-needed reforms are being made to the basic formula price and other 
pricing issues are improved.
  However, today's legislation will ensure that regions are treated 
fairly and that farm income is not slashed as a result of the reforms.
  Mr. Speaker, our agencies must be responsive to Congress and our 
constituents in implementing our federal policies. The Clinton 
Administration has failed on both counts in its pursuit of dairy 
reforms.
  I again want to thank our leaders in the House and the Senate and our 
strong, bipartisan coalition that has remained determined to see that 
this issue is addressed before the end of this Congress.
  This is fair legislation that takes into account the best interests 
of the dairy industry in all regions.

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