The summer session of Congress ended with a bang as legislators finally hammered out a debt-limit deal to present to President Obama. With members of Congress now returning home to their districts for recess, August is an ideal time for dairy processors across the country to use this legislative downtime to host their representatives and senators at their processing facilities for educational tours and policy discussions.
"There is no better way to connect on a personal level with lawmakers than by inviting them to your business and allowing them to see firsthand how it operates and what it needs to be successful," said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president for legislative affairs and economic policy. "With a harmful dairy policy proposal already on the table in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill, dairy processors would be wise to seize opportunities available to help members of Congress understand why efforts to impose limits on milk supply should be opposed."
IDFA's GrassRoots Action Network for Dairy (GRAND) network can help members to:
- Identify and establish a relationship with members of Congress who represent plants, company headquarters or distribution facilities;
- Arrange plant tours or meetings with members of Congress to discuss company or industry issues; and
- Maintain relationships with members of Congress and staff in Washington, D.C., by staying in constant contact with Congress legislators and ensuring that issues important to dairy processors stay in the forefront.
Members interested in arranging a plant tour with a member of Congress or looking for more information on the GRAND program may visit www.dairycounts.org or contact Ashley Burch, IDFA assistant director of political programs, at (202) 220-3534 or aburch@idfa.org.