WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand have joined forces to push forward legislation to require country of origin labeling on all dairy products.

Known as the Dairy COOL Act, the proposed legislation would extend the USDA’s existing COOL requirements on meats, produce and nuts to include dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and butter.

Gillibrand, who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee, initially introduced the Dairy COOL Act last year. She and Schumer reintroduced it Thursday. According to the two legislators, the measure will both help New York dairy farmers and protect consumers.

“New Yorkers are proud of the high-quality dairy products they produce and this bill will boost New York agriculture while empowering consumers to choose our own locally produced foods,” Schumer said.

According to Gillibrand, 15 percent of the nation’s food supply is now imported from countries around the globe, including China, which accounted for $5.2 billion in food imports last year. Because of this, she says it is more important than ever for consumers to know where there food is coming from.