(NASHVILLE) — Wednesday morning, House Republicans voted unanimously to pass an initiative sponsored by State Representative David Hawk (R-Greeneville) and State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) supporting Tennessee’s dairy farmers.
House Bill 2153 encourages consumers to purchase local dairy products by informing them that their milk was created right here in Tennessee through product labeling.
The measure comes as a group of East Tennessee dairy farmers recently expressed concerns over the future of their businesses due to contract issues and falling profits. In fact, Dean Foods recently informed approximately 100 farmers nationwide — including 11 in East Tennessee alone — that it would stop buying their milk as of May 31.
Representatives Hawk and Faison have led efforts to save the state’s dairy farming industry in the General Assembly. They hope this initiative will persuade citizens of our state to “buy local.”
“This recent situation is crippling small business owners whose farms have been in their families for generations,” said Representative Hawk. “House Bill 2153 is a small way we can support their continued viability. We encourage our citizens to back their local dairy farmers. ”
‘Tennesseans need to rally around our local dairy industry,” said Representative Faison. “What we have seen in East Tennessee could very easily have a ripple effect on communities across our state. I am hopeful that this initiative will help our citizens realize the importance of buying local as it relates to dairy.”
For more information about House Bill 2153, please click here.
David Hawk serves as the House Assistant Majority Leader. He is also a member of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources, House Rules, and House Finance, Ways & Means Committee, as well as the House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee. Hawk lives in Greeneville and represents House District 5, which includes part of Greene County. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling (615) 741-7482.
Jeremy Faison serves as Chairman of the House Government Operations Committee. He is also a member of the House Calendar & Rules Committee, the House Health Committee and Subcommittee, the Joint Government Operations Committee, Joint Government Operations Commerce, Labor, Transportation & Agriculture, Joint Government Operations Education, Health & General Welfare, and the Joint Government Operations Judiciary & Government Subcommittees. Faison lives in Cosby and represents House District 11, which includes Cocke and part of Jefferson and Greene Counties. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling (615) 741-6871.