Ron Lewis: “the committee achieves the reforms needed in dairy policy, just as H.R. 2854 does for all other commodities it affects.…”

“the committee achieves the reforms needed in dairy policy, just as H.R. 2854 does for all other commodities it affects. Again, dairy farmers are meeting their responsibility in helping to balance the Federal budget, but they need the committee reforms to the dairy program to meet that responsibility and to make a profit milking cows. The committee bill saves $76 million in over 7 years. That is $400 million more than the Solomon-Dooley amendment. The dairy industry wants to become more market-oriented, and the committee bill allows them to accomplish that during a 2-year transition period, the shortest transition period included in the farm bill. The committee bill consolidates orders, reforms pricing, phases down support price over 5 years, and provides a safety net for the thousands of dairy farm families across this Nation. Mr. Chairman, I met with two groups of dairy farmers from my district last week concerning the committee bill. These hardworking family farmers, who only want an opportunity to make a living for their family and be successful in dairy farming, they believe the committee bill is the way to go. I ask that my colleagues defeat this amendment.”