HJ0033 LRB094 11815 RSP 44126 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program has
3 helped Illinois dairy farmers survive over the last few years
4 by compensating milk production during periods of extremely low
5 prices; and
 
6     WHEREAS, The MILC program expires in September and, without
7 an extension by Congress, the end of the program will deprive
8 Illinois dairy farmers of a valuable safety net that has
9 provided over $38,000,000 in necessary funding to an important
10 Illinois industry; and
 
11     WHEREAS, It is foreseeable that price fluctuation in the
12 future, without a MILC safety net, may have a profound negative
13 impact on the economic viability of dairy farms in this State;
14 and
 
15     WHEREAS, Dairy farming serves an important role in the
16 modern, diverse economy of this State; it also functions as a
17 cultural, social, and historic anchor for many of Illinois'
18 rural communities; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
20 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21 we strongly urge the United States Congress to pass legislation
22 that extends the MILC program until at least 2007, when it may
23 be reviewed in the context of the next farm bill process; and
24 be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be provided to the
26 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the
27 President of the United States Senate, and each member of the
28 Illinois Congressional delegation.