To allow modified bloc voting by cooperative associations of milk producers in connection with a referendum on Federal Milk Marketing Order reform.

January 7, 2003

Mr. FEINGOLD introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

To allow modified bloc voting by cooperative associations of milk producers in connection with a 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 2003'.

SEC. 2. MODIFIED BLOC VOTING.

(a) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding paragraph (12) of section 8c of the Agricultural Adjustment Act (7 U.S.C. 608c), 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 to hold a vote on behalf of its members as authorized by that paragraph, the cooperative association shall provide to each producer, on behalf of which 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.

(b) TABULATION OF BALLOTS- At the time at which ballots from a vote under subsection (a) are tabulated by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary shall adjust the vote of a cooperative association to reflect individual votes submitted by producers that are members of, stockholders in, or under contract with, the cooperative association.

END