[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE QUALITY CHEESE ACT OF 2001

  (Ms. BALDWIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, today I will introduce the bipartisan 
Quality Cheese Act of 2001, a bill that will prohibit the use of dry 
ultra-filtered milk, of cassein, and milk-protein concentrates in the 
making of standardized cheese.

                              {time}  1015

  The plight of our Nation's dairy farmers continues to worsen. In 
Wisconsin alone, dairy farmers lost $500 million last year because 
prices reached a 20-year low. My dairy farmers simply cannot stay in 
business with prices at these levels.
  Dry ultra-filtered milk and its derivatives such as milk protein 
concentrates, MPCs, are allowed into our country basically duty free. 
In many countries, the costs of its production is subsidized, placing 
our dairy producers at a competitive disadvantage.
  I do not want a cheap, subsidized import to take the place of our 
dairy farmers' wholesome milk in cheese vats in this country.
  Please join me in supporting the Quality Cheese Act of 2001.

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