The Goodlatte-Scott Amendment garnered broad support this week from a large coalition that now includes dairy producer groups, food trade and restaurant associations, consumer protection groups and taxpayer watchdog groups. IDFA and the coalition groups believe the amendment sponsors, Reps. Robert Goodlatte (R-VA) and David Scott (D-GA), proposed an effective and fiscally responsible safety net for dairy farmers that wouldn't hurt consumers and or have a negative impact on federal nutrition programs. 

Several national food trade associations joined with consumer groups, state dairy associations and anti-tax groups this week to voice their opposition to the supply management provision included in the House Agriculture Committee chairman’s version of the Farm Bill. They urged members of the committee to support the bipartisan amendment. Read more here.

Dairy producer groups also opposed the supply management provision. In a letter sent yesterday to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN), the groups said they have “continuously raised objections over the impact the Dairy Security Act (supply controls) will have on our members." The groups include California Dairies, Inc.; Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative; Dairy Policy Action Coalition; National All-Jersey, Inc.; North East Dairy Producers Association, Inc.; and Wisconsin Dairy Business Association. Read more here.

The Minnesota Milk Producers Association sent a separate letter in support of a safety net program without supply management.

In addition, a coalition of six taxpayer groups sent a letter to members of the House Agriculture Committee urging their support for the Goodlatte-Scott amendment. Signed by Americans for Tax Reform, Citizens Against Government Waste, National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayer Protection Alliance, Taxpayers for Common Sense and the R Street Institute, the letter said the Farm Bill “requires real free-market reforms, not a continuation of the failed policies of the past."

"We're heartened by the excellent showing that we made in the committee vote, and we believe the amendment is positioned well for consideration by the full House, especially given the support it received this week from this vast variety of organizations," said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president of legislative and economic affairs.

For more information, contact Slominski at jslominski@idfa.org.