Dairy industry leaders from across the country are in Washington this week to urge Congressional leaders and appropriators to fund important research, a SNAP milk incentive pilot program, and dairy standards modernization at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in fiscal year (FY) 2021. The executives are participating in an International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) legislative fly-in focused on the federal appropriations process, which began this month.
“As congressional appropriators deliberate funding priorities for next year, it’s important they hear from the dairy industry,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “IDFA’s fly-ins have had a significant effect. Just last year, our appropriations fly-in helped secure funding for the SNAP milk incentive program, a new program created in the 2018 Farm Bill to empower families in need to make nutritious choices. We hope to build on that momentum this year.”
The group will spend the next couple of days on Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to increase funding for the SNAP milk incentive program, continue important research and collaboration on ice cream food waste solutions, and fund the FDA office responsible for modernizing dairy’s 97 standards of identity. They will also meet with senior administration officials to discuss shortages in the domestic sugar supply.
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