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In Wake of National Tragedy,
Compact Fate Remains Uncertain IDFA's communication with Capitol Hill confirms that the fate of the Northeast Dairy Compact is the last thing on the minds of most members of Congress in the wake of the September 11th national tragedies. Congressional leadership has said that they will resume work on the national legislative agenda "at the appropriate time." With only a few legislative days left on the congressional calendar this month, the chances are very slim that Congress will focus on any agriculture policy, including the farm bill or dairy compacts, before the end of September. However, in view of the fast-approaching September 30 sunset date for the Northeast Dairy Compact, compact proponents have been meeting to find a way to get Congress to grant a short-term extension specifically for the Northeast Compact. Between now and the end of the session, Congress is likely to spend just about all of its time addressing the national emergency and passing the necessary FY 2002 spending bills. In theory, those spending bills could well be a threat for attaching a temporary Northeast Dairy Compact extension amendment. Legislation to expand dairy compacts to additional regions is not likely to be back on the congressional agenda for the rest of this legislative session. Even though the odds are strongly against dairy compact legislation advancing this congressional session, we will remain alert of activities on Capitol Hill, and we'll work with our allies to defeat any compact extension effort. If you would like to communicate to your elected officials about this issue, you may want to include these points:
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