HJ0033 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0033 LRB094 11815 RSP 44126 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program has helped Illinois dairy farmers survive over the last few years by compensating milk production during periods of extremely low prices; and

WHEREAS, The MILC program expires in September and, without an extension by Congress, the end of the program will deprive Illinois dairy farmers of a valuable safety net that has provided over $38,000,000 in necessary funding to an important Illinois industry; and

WHEREAS, It is foreseeable that price fluctuation in the future, without a MILC safety net, may have a profound negative impact on the economic viability of dairy farms in this State; and

WHEREAS, Dairy farming serves an important role in the modern, diverse economy of this State; it also functions as a cultural, social, and historic anchor for many of Illinois' rural communities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we strongly urge the United States Congress to pass legislation that extends the MILC program until at least 2007, when it may be reviewed in the context of the next farm bill process; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be provided to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and each member of the Illinois Congressional delegation.