HARRISBURG – Recognizing the negative impact of weather-related commercial vehicle travel bans on Pennsylvania dairy farmers, House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee Chairman Martin Causer (R-Cameron/McKean/Potter) is sponsoring legislation to exempt milk trucks from any future travel bans.
House Bill 915 will be the subject of an informational meeting of the committee in April.
Causer introduced his bill in response to the Wolf administration issuing a disaster emergency declaration this winter in which commercial vehicles were banned three times from some portions or all of the state’s interstate highways in anticipation of snow or ice accumulations.
“The problem with that policy is, dairy cows continue to produce milk no matter what the weather,” Causer said. “Without any way to get their milk picked up and delivered to market, farmers may have no choice but to dump it, and that is the last thing our struggling dairy producers need.
“While there are other perishable products that enter commerce via travel on our highways, milk is the only product where the cows keep giving it, the schedule for their milking simply cannot be adjusted, and there isn’t any spare capacity in the bulk tank,” he added.
Causer acknowledged the importance of public safety when dealing with winter storms but says the administration needs to recognize the unique nature of milk production and the impact on Pennsylvania dairy farmers.
The committee meeting will feature presentations by administration officials as well as other stakeholders and will be held on Wednesday, April 10, in Room 60 East Wing of the state Capitol. Barring technical difficulties, it will be streamed live at www.RepCauser.com starting at 9 a.m.
