Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
April 7, 2005
Cattlemen’s Capitol Concerns (CCC) is a weekly report from Washington D.C. giving an up-to-date summary of top policy initiatives concerning the cattle industry; direct from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Appropriations: As Congress returns to Washington this week, they are looking ahead to their work on appropriations. NCBA submitted their annual ag appropriations request via letter to Congress this week and emphasized the need for funding to protect the health of our nation’s cattle herd, ensure continued confidence in our food supply, conserve our natural resources, and enhance the viability of the U.S. beef industry. NCBA asks that the bulk of the agriculture appropriations bill fund continued enhancement of our nation’s animal health infrastructure. This infrastructure includes the National Animal Disease Center, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, and the Center for Veterinary Biologics in Ames, Iowa, and provides for research on animal diseases and monitoring and surveillance programs to protect our animals from the introduction of foreign animal diseases.

In addition, our requests reflect the U.S. cattle producer’s commitment to be good stewards of the land. USDA’s conservation programs play a vital part in conserving and preserving our natural resources to ensure the sustainability of our industry, and we support the President’s budget for conservation and the important role cattlemen play in implementing those programs on the ground.

Japan Update: Following a meeting between key members of the House Ag Committee and Japanese Ambassador Ryozo Kato on April 6, Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) issued a press statement calling for Japan to end their 16-month ban on U.S. beef products. "Last October, our two governments announced that an agreement had been reached that would lead to a resumption of trade…Many Members of the Committee, including myself, have been disappointed at the narrow range of products that Japan’s negotiators have been willing to consider for import, despite extensive scientific analysis that establishes the safety of a much wider ranger of products," said Chairman Goodlatte. "But the terms insisted upon by Japan would represent a beginning to a return to more normal trade in beef, and our negotiators have been willing to proceed on that basis. Unfortunately, this flexibility has been met with a continued unwillingness on Japan’s part to reopen even limited trade." Goodlatte said he hopes the Japanese government will resolve this issue "before serious harm is done to the important relationship between our nations."

Cattlemen Urge Support for CAFTA: Cattle producers across the country are rallying for passage of the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Because of the export opportunities it provides for U.S. cattle producers, this agreement is a win-win for the U.S. cattle industry. These Central American nations and the Dominican Republic already enjoy duty-free access to our market, and what this agreement does is provide increased market access opportunities for our exports on day one of the agreement.  The CAFTA-DR countries have a rapidly growing tourism industry, with hotels and resort communities that are an excellent market for high-quality cuts of U.S. beef. CAFTA provides immediate relief from the prohibitive tariffs that currently restrict the flow of these beef cuts, and an eventual phase-out of all tariffs on U.S. beef and beef products. At a time when many key export markets are still closed to U.S. cattle producers, CAFTA will provide some very welcome new trade opportunities.   NCBA continues to actively lobby members of congress for their support of this agreement. 

Producers Need to Help Push for CAFTA: NCBA is urging all NCBA members to contact their members of congress and push for final passage of this trade agreement which will have significant benefits for U.S. cattlemen. For information on how to help with this effort, or to get more information including fact sheets, sample letters, and analyses on how the CAFTA-DR impacts cattlemen, visit NCBA’s web site at http://hill.beef.org, or go to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative online at www.ustr.gov and click on the CAFTA-DR Briefing Book.

CAFTA Hearings Scheduled: NCBA is preparing for congressional hearings on the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Hearings on the trade agreement are scheduled in the Senate Finance Committee on April 13, and in the House Ways & Means Committee April 21. NCBA, as part of a business coalition supporting CAFTA, briefed House Ways & Means Committee staff on April 7 and, explained the trade agreement’s benefits for the U.S. ag sector, as well as the rest of the U.S. economy.

Taiwan Update: Cattlemen are pleased USDA confirmed today that Taiwan will reopen its market to U.S. beef exports effective April 16, 2005. "This action demonstrates Taiwan's commitment to trade in beef and beef products based on internationally accepted scientific standards for human and animal health," says Ag Secretary Mike Johanns. "Our goal is the resumption of normal beef trade throughout the world and we are working tirelessly to that end." The April 16 re-opening will include boneless beef from animals under 30 months of age.

NCBA Spring Conference is NEXT WEEK!: Hundreds of cattle producers will be in Washington, D.C. next week for this important cattle industry conference. NCBA’s 2005 Spring Conference is April 13-16.  Attendees will hear directly from top policymakers, meet face-to-face with key Congressional offices, government agency influencers and have the opportunity to articulate policy priorities for today’s cattle industry. Confirmed speakers include U.S. Ag Secretary Mike Johanns and Senate Ag Committee Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). More information is posted on http://hill.beef.org/spring, or contact Erica Spiegle at espiegle@beef.org. 

Congressional Schedule: Congress is back in session this week following two weeks off for Easter recess. The House is now scheduled to be in session for the next eight weeks. The Senate’s next recess is scheduled for May 2-6.

BSE Surveillance Program Tests over 300,000 for BSE: USDA continues its enhanced BSE surveillance program which began June 1, 2004. To date, 305,256 tests have been conducted with no positive cases reported. APHIS’s goal is to test as many cattle from the high-risk population as possible in a 12 to 18-month period. Testing 268,500 animals detects BSE at a rate of 1 in 10 million adult cattle at a 99 percent confidence level. Although the program has now passed its 268,500 targeted number, APHIS says it will continue the enhanced surveillance program for the remainder of the 12 to 18-month time period.

Consumer Confidence Remains High: Although the number of negative animals tested for BSE is impressive, simply testing for BSE is not a safety mechanism. Consumers should know our country is protected from BSE through a series of firewalls which include import restrictions, the feed ban and mandatory removal of specified risk materials from the food supply. Still, USDA’s enhanced surveillance program has helped to prove that our firewalls are working. Consumer confidence in the U.S. beef supply remains at an all-time high, and this has built strong demand for the high quality and safe product we produce here in the United States. This also helps strengthen our case as we continue to negotiate the reopening of countries that have been closed to U.S. beef since December of 2003.

Media Contact:
Tanya Augustson or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228; taugustson@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org

This publication is funded by cattle producers and other industry supporters through their voluntary membership contributions to NCBA. To join the tens of thousands of cattle producers from across the U.S. in working to preserve our legacy, contact NCBA Member Services at 1-866-BEEF-USA or Membership@beef.org.

For more information, please visit our web site at hill.beef.org.

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