News Release
Dairy Trade Coalition Welcomes
NY and WI State Officials to New Advisory Council
WASHINGTON, DC - The
Dairy Trade Coalition today announced the appointment of New York
Assembly Member Chris Ortloff (R-110th) and Wisconsin State
Representative Joe Plouff (D-29th) to its new Dairy Trade Advisory
Council (DTAC). They join Russell Redding, Deputy Secretary for
Marketing, Promotion & Program Services from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and Dr. Enrique E. Figueroa, former Deputy Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs for the U.S. Department of
Agriculture.
Executive Director Mario Castillo said
"these seasoned policy-makers will advise the DTC on a wide
range of trade-related issues important to family dairy farmers and
those dependent upon them for quality dairy products."
Rep. Ortloff commented on his appointment
to the panel, "International trade rules are playing a significant
part of reducing the flexibility state and federal legislators have in
solving our constituents' problems. For example, I was shocked to
learn that one of our major trading partners has labeled -- and may seek
to attack -- as 'disguised subsidies' U.S. food programs for the poor,
women, infants, children and the elderly. I cannot stand idly by
while the basic needs of my constituents are possibly traded away during
the next round of World Trade Organization talks."
Rep. Plouff stated that, "As the
ranking Democrat of the Wisconsin State Assembly's Agriculture
Committee, I was compelled to work with the DTC on initiatives which
will not violate WTO trade rules while serving the best interests of
American dairy family farms. Serving on DTAC should prove
beneficial to my constituents and all family dairy farmers in
Wisconsin."
"Reps. Ortloff and Plouff clearly
understand the needs of grassroots producers and the importance of
healthy, vibrant family dairy farms to our national economy and
culture. They both represent traditional dairy-producing regions
which have much in common economically, culturally and
environmentally. And, they may well prove to be the most
appropriate conduit for productive dialogue between Northeastern and
Upper Midwest dairy producers on international dairy trade concerns
which are common to both regions," said Castillo.
Castillo noted that, "Both Canada
and the Netherlands are calling into question the legality of U.S. milk
marketing orders, dairy compacts, and California's irrigation water
pricing. While some of these programs may be regionally
controversial within this country, the ultimate decisions about them
should rest with Americans, not with unelected international trade
bureaucrats. U.S. dairy farmers and their urban dependents are
under attack internationally. For too long those that pretend to
represent dairy producers have fiddled away opportunity after
opportunity to correct wrongs they helped create during the Uruguay
Round of trade talks. The DTAC members, I believe, will bring a
fresh perspective to problem solving.
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For Immediate Release (02-09-01).
Contact. Mario Castillo Tel: 202.518.9590.
F:202.581.9592 |
