WASHINGTON, D.C. – Local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program will be extended in the emergency supplemental bill expected to be passed by the House and Senate and sent to the President for his signature in the coming days. The MILC program is a vital program to the Upstate New York dairy farmers that Congresswoman Gillibrand represents and had been previously excluded from the upcoming Farm Bill. Congresswoman Gillibrand had been involved with negotiations with House leaders earlier this week to ensure the program would be included in the spending bill.
Announces Likely Extension of MILC Program May 24, 2007 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program will be extended in the emergency supplemental bill expected to be passed by the House and Senate and sent to the President for his signature in the coming days. The MILC program is a vital program to the Upstate New York dairy farmers that Congresswoman Gillibrand represents and had been previously excluded from the upcoming Farm Bill. Congresswoman Gillibrand had been involved with negotiations with House leaders earlier this week to ensure the program would be included in the spending bill. The extension of the MILC program is a key provision of the Congresswoman’s marker legislation – the American Dairy Farmer Protection Act (HR 1583) and represents a significant win in her efforts to help local dairy farmers. "This is a great step forward for our dairy farmers," said Rep. Gillibrand, a member of the House Agriculture Committee. "Our work is far from done but this is crucial for us. I will continue to work with Members of both parties and the Administration to get the best deal possible for our farmers." Congresswoman Gillibrand has led recent efforts by Members of Congress fighting to make sure the MILC program is included in the baseline budget for the farm bill. The extension to be voted on in the House later today ensures the MILC program will be included in the farm bill for fiscal years 2008 through 2012. Earlier this week the Congresswoman joined forces with Agriculture committee colleague and fellow New Yorker, Rep. Randy Kuhl, in a letter to Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson and Livestock subcommittee Chair, Leonard Boswell asking for extension of the program. In addition to extending the MILC program, Congresswoman Gillibrand’s American Dairy Farmer Protection Act would improve conditions for dairy farmers through increasing the floor on the price of milk and double the base amount of milk farmers can produce to be eligible for subsidies. The legislation has been endorsed by the New York State Farm Bureau. # # # |