Watson Coleman: “I am pleased to be joined by 26 of my colleagues--over a quarter of the United States Senate. This is a bipartisan piece…”

“I am pleased to be joined by 26 of my colleagues--over a quarter of the United States Senate. This is a bipartisan piece of legislation that has nation-wide support including in the Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South, and West. This is not only rare for legislative efforts generally but extremely rare in the world of dairy. MILC is important because it provides a critical safety net for dairy farmers that is equitable to all farmers across the country--also a departure from traditional federal dairy policy. When milk prices fell to a 25 year low not long ago, MILC was vital in preventing a mass exodus of dairy farm families in my State. Fortunately, prices have recovered more recently. But should prices fall again, my dairy farm families need the kind of safety net provided by MILC. MILC is important in that it provides a strong safety net to all the Nation's dairy farmers in a market-oriented way that does not increase milk prices on the grocery shelf. For these and other reasons President Bush did the right thing and endorsed the extension of MILC.”