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House Ag Committee Passes Budget Reconciliation Bill; No MILC Included On October 28, the House Agriculture Committee passed budget reconciliation legislation that cuts agriculture spending by $3.7 billion over the next five years. The committee did not include renewal of the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program, which expired on September 30, 2005. The spending cuts are part of a congressional effort to trim $34.7 billion in mandatory federal spending.The House of Representatives is attempting to pass a budget reconciliation package with deeper cuts than the House and Senate agreed to earlier this year. The House Agriculture Committee bill reduces funding for commodity, conservation, energy, rural development and nutrition programs. The spending reductions in the House package exceeded the original congressional goal by 23%. "IDFA applauds the House Agriculture Committee for not resuscitating the costly and divisive MILC program," said IDFA Senior Vice President Chip Kunde. "A billion dollars in new spending cannot be justified at a time when the committee is making across-the-board cuts to other programs." Also, the Senate Budget Committee last week approved a reconciliation bill that included fewer cuts to agricultural programs than the House bill and a new $1 billion MILC program. Once the House and the Senate approve their reconciliation bills, any differences between them, including whether to include a new MILC program, will have to be resolved before Congress adjourns. IDFA is urging its members to contact their local members of Congress to express opposition to the proposed MILC program. For more information on MILC, a sample advocacy letter or to use IDFA's online e-advocacy tool to contact your congressional delegation, click here. Posted October 31, 2005
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