Democracy for Dairy Producers Act of 1999 (Introduced in the Senate)
S 1416 IS
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1416
To amend the Agriculture Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to
allow a modified bloc voting by cooperative associations of milk producers
in connection with the scheduled August referendum on Federal Milk Marketing
Order reform.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 22, 1999
Mr. FEINGOLD (for himself and Mr. KOHL) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry
A BILL
To amend the Agriculture Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 to
allow a modified bloc voting by cooperative associations of milk producers
in connection with the scheduled August referendum on Federal Milk Marketing
Order reform.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
The Act may be cited as the `Democracy for Dairy Producers Act of 1999'.
SEC. 2. MODIFIED BLOC VOTING.
Notwithstanding section 8c(12) of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7
U.S.C. 608c(12)), reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937, in the case of the referendum conducted as part
of the consolidation of Federal milk marketing orders and related reforms
under section 143 of the Agricultural Market Transition Act (7 U.S.C. 7253),
if a cooperative association of milk producers elects a vote on behalf
of its members as authorized by such section 8c(12), the cooperative association
shall provide to each producer, on whose behalf the cooperative association
is expressing approval or disapproval, written notice containing--
(1) a description of the questions presented in the referendum;
(2) a statement of the manner in which the cooperative association
intends to cast its vote on behalf of the membership; and
(3) information regarding the procedures by which a producer may cast
an individual ballot.
When ballots are tabulated by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary
shall adjust the vote of a cooperative association to reflect individual
votes submitted by producers who are members of, stockholders in, or under
contract with, the cooperative association.