| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 7/27/20Contact: Jordan Dunn |
| WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI-08) last Friday led a letter to House and Senate leadership urging them to include funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Milk Donation Reimbursement Program in any future Coronavirus relief package. The letter, signed by Reps. Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Bryan Steil (WI-01), Glenn Grothman (WI-06), and Jim Sensenbrenner (WI-05), highlights the importance of this program to farmers and how funding will not only help prevent food product from going to waste, but also offer nutrition assistance to individuals hit hard by the pandemic. |
| The lawmakers wrote, “The Milk Donation Reimbursement Program partners dairy producers with non-profit organizations that distribute food to low-income individuals. Through the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Congress directed USDA to use the program to reduce food waste in the agriculture industry by providing reimbursements for these partnerships to cover expenses related to fluid dairy product donations. These reimbursements not only encourage dairy producers to donate excess product to foodbanks, homeless shelters, and other organizations that provide food for those in need, but they also help dairy producers survive exogenous shocks to their industry.” |
| The full letter is available HERE and found below. Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Schumer: Thank you for your tireless work and dedication to the American people during the ongoing public health crisis and time of economic hardship. As Congress continues to provide aid and assistance to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, we respectfully ask that funding for the USDA’s Milk Donation Reimbursement Program be included in any future Coronavirus response legislative agreement. The Milk Donation Reimbursement Program partners dairy producers with non-profitorganizations that distribute food to low-income individuals. Through the AgricultureImprovement Act of 2018, Congress directed USDA to use the program to reduce food waste in the agriculture industry by providing reimbursements for these partnerships to cover expenses related to fluid dairy product donations. These reimbursements not only encourage dairy producers to donate excess product to foodbanks, homeless shelters, and other organizations that provide food for those in need, but they also help dairy producers survive exogenous shocks to their industry. Since its onset, the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges to livestock, dairy, and specialty crop industries. Economists estimate that the dairy industry will suffer billions in losses, on track to have its worst year since 2015. Further compounding the problem is the disruption of our nation’s food supply chains, which has drastically decreased demand for dairy products. Without the typical flow of dairy from farmers to restaurants, grocery stores, and schools, millions of gallons of milk have been dumped and gone to waste while thousands of Americans in need go hungry. We urge you to include robust funding for the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program as itprovides financial relief to farmers, prevents food product from going to waste, and offersdesperately needed nutrition assistance to low-income individuals hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you again for your continuous efforts to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to working with you on further legislation to help address the many challenges this pandemic created for millions of Americans. Sincerely, Rep. Mike Gallagher (WI-08)Rep. Tom Tiffany (WI-07)Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01)Rep. Glenn Grothman (WI-06)Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (WI-05) |
