National Dairy Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud descendant of dairy farmers to honor National Dairy Month.

As the first chairman of the House Agriculture Committee from Pennsylvania in nearly 170 years, I know the importance of America's dairy industry.

Our Commonwealth is home to more than 5,000 dairy farms with more than 470,000 cows. We produce nearly 10 billion pounds of milk each year and for every cow, we generate $24,000 in economic revenue.

The American dairy industry is an economic powerhouse, home to nearly 10 million dairy cows, supporting over 3 million jobs, and generating nearly $42 billion in direct wages.

America's dairy farmers produce more than 200 billion pounds of milk each year, ensuring that there is a consistent and reliable supply of essential nutrients.

However, the story of American dairy goes deeper than just statistics and numbers. It is a story of family farms and hardworking producers. Dairy producers work tirelessly every day of the year to provide nutritious products for consumers here and around the world.

American dairy is a robust and dynamic sector that supports our economy, nourishes our population, and embodies the values of hard work and determination.

Mr. Speaker, I thank all of our dairy farmers and producers across the Commonwealth and around the country.

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