Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns
July 15, 2004
The 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).
Congressional Hearing on BSE: NCBA was asked to participate in a joint hearing with the House Committees on Government Reform and Agriculture this week. The hearing was hosted this Wednesday, July 14 to discuss USDA’s BSE expanded surveillance program. The committees heard from witnesses on 3 separate panels: USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, APHIS Administrator Dr. Ron DeHaven, and USDA Chief Economist Keith Collins testified first. The second panel witness was the Honorable Phyllis K. Fong, USDA Inspector General. On the third panel, NCBA’s Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs Gary Weber testified along with Jim Hodges, President, American Meat Institute, Peter Lurie, Deputy Director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, and Dr. George Gray, Executive Director, the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis.
NCBA Reiterates Beef Safety: NCBA’s testimony at this week’s joint hearing, televised on CSPAN, highlighted the BSE-planning and actions taken in the U.S. over the past 15 years. We noted that the U.S. was the first country in the world without BSE to: (1) ban the importation of cattle, beef and beef products from countries with BSE, (2) develop a BSE surveillance program, which since 1989 has been supported by and expanded as deemed necessary by both Republican and Democratic administrations, (3) ban the use of cattle feed ingredients that have been identified as capable of transmitting the BSE agent, and (4) conduct an independent analysis of the risk of BSE and the prevention measures that have been put in place.
NCBA’s testimony noted the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis conclusion that ‘measures taken by the U.S. government and industry make the U.S. robust against the spread of BSE to animals or humans should it be introduced into this country.’ Dr. Gary Weber explained to Congress that "In addition to the measures listed above, if the expanded surveillance program indicates our long-standing BSE prevention programs have been effective, then we believe staying on that course will sufficiently protect animal health in the U.S. If the data indicates our prevalence is other than expected, we’ll work to analyze the situation and determine what, if any, additional science- and risk-based measures may be needed to further protect animal health."
BSE Becomes Part of Political Election-Year Agenda: In the midst of a tumultuous election year, it is important to keep the talk about BSE in perspective. Scare-tactics which could imply that the U.S. government and the industry have not kept the U.S. population safe from BSE are dangerously erroneous. The U.S. is proud to have the safest beef production system in the world, and consumer confidence in our product remains extremely high. In his closing remarks at Wednesday’s hearing, House Ag Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said "A great many things have been said, either out of ignorance or malice, about the previous BSE surveillance program and the current expanded BSE surveillance program, that do great harm to our ability to shape a sound public policy."
Agriculture Appropriations: Thanks to actions this week by NCBA members and state affiliates nationwide, possible amendments threatening important programs for cattle producers were not introduced during the House debate over FY05 Agriculture Appropriations. The House passed its $83.7 billion FY05 Agriculture Appropriations Bill this Tuesday July 13 by a vote of 389-31. Every year, NCBA continues to work aggressively with Congress to ensure that cattle producers are a key player in the agriculture appropriations process, ensuring that the infrastructure producers need to stay competitive is maintained. The agriculture spending bill supports many of the FDA and USDA programs and includes funding for the BSE surveillance program, BSE detection and prevention, increased FDA inspections, and a toll-free hotline. Funding was also approved for USDA’s Animal Identification efforts, and the child nutrition and conservation programs, including about $1 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The Senate is expected to debate their FY2005 Ag Appropriations bill this Fall.
Klamath Hearing: The House Resources Committee is hosting a field hearing on Endangered Species Act (ESA) issues this Saturday, July 17 in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Committee Chair Richard Pombo (R-CA) says the hearing will focus on ESA impacts on the Klamath Reclamation Project. The National Research Council report on ESA will also be presented at that time. Other members of Congress expected to be at the hearing include Reps. Ken Calvert (R-CA), John Doolittle (R-CA) Wally Herger (R-CA), and Greg Walden (R-OR). Walden, whose district includes Klamath and Lake counties, is trying to get legislation through Congress that would add layers of peer review to the science on which ESA decisions are based. Dan Keppen, executive director for Klamath Water Users Association, will submit written testimony on behalf of Klamath area farmers and ranchers. Keppen’s testimony will describe efforts of local water users to protect and enhance water supplies, enhance the environment, and stabilize the agricultural economy over the past decade. Farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Project have consistently supported restoration actions to improve habitat for the basin’s fish and wildlife species, and local agricultural and business leaders have dedicated thousands of volunteer hours and have spent millions of dollars to participate in processes associated with environmental restoration, Klamath Basin water rights adjudication, dispute resolution, drought-proofing, and water supply enhancement.
Australia Free Trade Agreement: This week, the House passed HR 4759, the Australian Free Trade Agreement (314-109) with one member choosing not to vote. The Senate Finance Committee approved its version of the measure (S 2610) by 17-4, and debate in the full Senate is currently underway. The Senate is likely to vote tonight. In May, the U.S. and Australia signed the FTA. NCBA’s primary objective in the negotiations of this agreement was to prevent any potential negative impact on U.S. beef producers caused by implementing an FTA before finalizing the WTO trade liberalization process. While we have consistently had strong concerns throughout the final negotiations of this agreement, we have continued to be involved in the process, staying engaged in order to push for a realistic agreement that would minimize economic impacts on U.S. cattle producers. NCBA continues to encourage the Administration to put every means at its disposal into completing a multilateral (WTO) agreement that will provide significant new access for U.S. beef exports.
Moroccan Trade: This Wednesday, both the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees voted on draft legislation that would implement the U.S.-Morocco FTA. Both Committees voted in favor of the FTA, and although they are not able to add amendments, this "mock" markup of legislation gives Congress the opportunity ot make suggestions to the White House on the agreement. NCBA hopes that the Administration will bring this bill up next week, to give Congress the opportunity to pass the FTA prior to the scheduled August recess. U.S. cattle producers across the country will gain future benefit is from the agreement with Morocco, which will opens doors for increased quantities of our high-quality beef to be exported to their extensive hotel and restaurant industry.
Roadless Rule: USDA Secretary Veneman announced July 12 the Administration’s new proposal to conserve roadless areas in national forests and grasslands. The Clinton Administration finalized its roadless rule in January 2001, but in June 2003, a federal court struck down the Clinton rule, concluding that it violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Wilderness Act. NCBA will be preparing comments on the proposal, and following evaluation of comments, the Forest Service will issue a final rule. In media reports this week, environmentalists decried the proposal as "a giveaway to industry." In a statement this week, House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA) said "the only industry that has benefited from these supposed giveaways is the environmental scare-peddling and fundraising industry. The size and scope of this special interest has increased dramatically, at the expense of honest Americans who have lost good jobs in the resource sector." Pombo said the new rule will inject common sense and local control into the rulemaking. "Forest management decisions should be made at the state level by people who know individual forest conditions best, not by bureaucrats surrounded by concrete in Washington."
Motor Vehicle Use on Forest System Lands: In related news, the U.S. Forest Service published in today’s Federal Register its proposed rule for managing motorized vehicles on lands within the National Forest System. NCBA and the Public Lands Council will be preparing comments within the 60-day comment period. Cattlemen maintain that vehicle use by grazing permittees in the performance of terms and conditions of a permit should be exempt. This would include vehicle use for monitoring, herding, fence mending, etc.
USDA Surveillance for BSE: USDA continues its BSE surveillance program which began on June 1. APHIS posts the test results on their website at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov. To date, 15,773 tests have been conducted. Initial rapid tests revealed "inconclusive" results on two separate animals; Both animals subsequently tested negative using the immunohistochemistry tests at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
FDA Animal Feed Rule: Following the FDA’s announcement of its proposed feed regulations last Friday, NCBA is analyzing the rule and preparing comments. Comments are due to FDA within 30 days of publication.
Food Guide Pyramid: USDA announced Monday July 12 that they will seek written comments and host a stakeholder meeting to obtain public input on USDA’s review and update of the Food Guidance System. The public has 45 days to provide written comments on the configuration of the new graphic, strategies to improve awareness and motivation for using the information, methods to assist consumers in personalizing the system, strategies to improve educational messages, interactive tools to demonstrate the messages and communication delivery channels for the messages. In addition, USDA will host a public stakeholder meeting Aug. 19, 9:00am-12:30pm. Final release of the new Food Guidance System and related consumer materials is scheduled for early 2005. NCBA is reviewing the notice and will be providing comments to the USDA.
Iowa Cattlemen’s Association receives EPA grant: The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Agriculture Engineering Associates were awarded a $500,000 from EPA for a 2 year project to monitor effectiveness of alternative technologies at six demonstration sites. In recent years, cattle producers have become subject to increasing environmental regulations. One such regulation requires that large CAFOs apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and establish a site-specific system that allows for no discharge of manure, litter or process wastewater pollutants into the waters of the United States from the production area by April 2006. NCBA supports government funding to expedite and demonstrate appropriate technologies that will allow CAFO feedlots to utilize their land and management resources to improve environmental protection for air and water in the most efficient ways possible. This effort is critical to maintaining viable livestock production with grass-roots participation in the U.S. We believe these technologies will demonstrate more sustainable, affordable environmental solutions to the air and water quality challenges of managing open feedlot systems in a variety of climates.
ESAP Ranch Tours: This summer, NCBA's Associate Director of Environmental Affairs, Megan Tipton is conducting video and photo shoots on this year's seven regional winning ranches of the 2004 Environmental Stewardship Award Program. Over the past 1-2 weeks, the team visited the regional winners in Oklahoma, Montana, Arizona, North Dakota, and Iowa. The media tours even inspired some local news media to join in and check out the winners’ operations. The prestigious annual award program recognizes cattle producers across the nation whose stewardship practices are inventive, cost-effective and contribute to environmental conservation.
USDA Listening Sessions on Animal ID: The next USDA listening session on Animal ID will be held in Socorro, NM on Friday, July 16. USDA is hosting the public forums to discuss the development, structure and implementation of a national animal ID program for all livestock and poultry animals. Future sessions scheduled include: Socorro, N.M. - July 16; Pasco, Wash. - July 23; Greeley, Colo. - Aug. 10; Billings, Mont. - Aug. 13; Kissimmee, Fla. - Aug. 16; Columbus, Ohio - Aug. 18; Ames, Iowa - Aug. 26; Joplin, Mo. - Aug. 27; Appleton, Wis. - Aug. 30; St. Cloud, Minn. - Aug. 31. Producers are encouraged to attend. Details about each session, including the site and time of meeting, will be posted at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/nais/nais_listeningsessions.html.
Canadian Visit: NCBA’s Chief Economist Gregg Doud was in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada this week to speak to a group of Canadian and Australian cattlemen about top issues affecting the U.S. cattle industry.
California Visit: NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Chandler Keys is in San Diego July 15-18 for the California Cattlemen’s Association Feeder Council meeting. Keys will give attendees a Legislative and Regulatory issues update and will focus his remarks on issues surrounding USDA’s expanded BSE surveillance program, the new proposed feed rules, efforts to develop and animal identification system, and export market negotiations.
Media Contact:
Tanya Augustson or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228; taugustson@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org
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