Milk Regulatory Equity Act of 2005

MILK REGULATORY EQUITY ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - March 28, 2006)

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2120 and ask for your support of this bill. I too want to thank Chairman Goodlatte and Congressman Nunes and Congressman Cardoza for their efforts on this important piece of legislation that eventually, I think, will lead to an important part where we need to focus on comprehensive dairy policy as we look toward the 2007 farm bill.

But I rise to speak very simply about something that is complicated, that, as most of you know, is dairy policy.

Your support of this bill does not require the detailed knowledge of the myriad pacts that govern the dairy industry and demand a historical analysis of what is going on throughout the country and individual States.

S. 2120, though, is about fairness. Is it fair today in California some of the world's most productive dairymen and women are being undercut by a legal loophole between the Federal and State dairy programs that permits some dairies to skirt all the rules?

Is it fair that by exporting these programs, some dairies avoid all regulations, enabling them to sell to retailers at well below well-regulated dairies?

Is it fair that this bill, which has passed the United States Senate with unanimous consent with overwhelming, obviously bipartisan support, has had to wait 3 years to be considered by the House?

Is it fair that one of the few dairies in this country that opposes this legislation claims he is simply using the free market system, while accepting nearly $1 million a year in Federal dairy support payments?

No, it is not fair. Your support of S. 2120 will bring fairness back to dairy farms. If we are going to ultimately craft an even-handed dairy policy throughout the country, and we have competition abroad, we need to first take this first step.

I urge you to support S. 2120.

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