CONGRESSIONAL RECESS PROVIDES GRASSROOTS LOBBYING OPPORTUNITY FOR CATTLE PRODUCERS

WASHINGTON D.C. (August 14, 2000) - As Congress prepares for the final stretch of the 106^th Congress, cattle producers have an opportunity to let their representatives know what policy issues are important to the beef industry, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said today.

Lawmakers are in their home states and districts during August. Following Labor Day, Congress will be pushing through final appropriations measures and other legislation in the remaining few weeks of the session. Cattle producers will be writing letters to their congressmen, making telephone calls and participating in town hall meetings to urge support for key issues.

“Now is an opportune time for our industry,” said George Hall, a cattle producer from Mustang, Okla., and NCBA president. “There are currently several pieces of legislation that will impact the way the cattle industry functions. Cattle producers need to be proactive and let their representatives know how these actions will affect our industry.”

One of the most significant policy wins for cattle producers is the recent passage of the Death Tax Elimination Act (HR 8). Both houses of Congress passed the measure with bipartisan support, and it will now go to the president.

“Although the president has threatened to veto the measure, cattle producers should write letters to the White House expressing support for the measure and explaining how it will benefit their business,” Hall said.

In September, the Senate is expected to vote on whether to grant China permanent normal trade relations (PNTR). The House passed the measure in May with a comfortable margin. This is one of the more pivotal measures Congress will approve this year regarding the cattle industry. China has 20 percent of the world’s consumers and is a largely untapped market for U.S. beef.

Below are other issues cattle producers should discuss with their congressmen:

• CARA - NCBA opposes the Conservation and Reinvestment Act, which passed the House and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. NCBA’s current strategy is to prevent the bill from reaching the floor, and it is urging senators to support possible floor amendments favorable to cattle producers. Despite some modifications by the Senate committee, the CARA bill still does not address “no net loss” of private lands and oversight of federal funding for land acquisitions.
• Disaster relief - This year’s wildfires and drought in the West have proven to be harsh to cattle producers. It’s time to urge Congress to support legislation that provides support for forage losses and predictable disaster relief for cattle producers. NCBA also supports ensuring adequate funding for wildfire control and management.
• Water quality - The Total Maximum Daily Loads rule has been a contentious issue since EPA released the proposed rule a year ago. The president signed a military appropriations bill that includes a rider barring funding to implement the TMDL rule for fiscal years 2000 and 2001. Another bill -- the TMDL Regulatory Accountability Act of 2000 (HR 4922) -- has been introduced in the House. The measure calls for additional congressional oversight of the TMDL process.
• Agriculture Appropriations - Encourage members of Congress to keep the $450 million in emergency livestock assistance for FY 2000. The bill has passed both the House and Senate and will go to conference for a compromise measure.
• Interior Appropriations - Encourage Congress to support grazing permit renewal language.
• Endangered Species - The Endangered Species Act of 2000 passed the House Resources Committee. The measure updates and improves the ESA by adding common sense principles.
• Property Rights - The House Resources committee has passed the Landowners Equal Protection bill of 2000. The measure provides just compensation to landowners who have to take their land out of production due to federal mandates.
• Carousel Retaliation - The president signed into law carousel retaliation earlier this summer. NCBA is closely monitoring the office of the USTR as it decides on a list of products to include on the list of goods targeted with punitive tariffs.

“These are some of the more notable issues,” Hall said. “Cattle producers are encouraged to speak to their congressmen about these and other issues that are important to them.”

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is the  trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.