Congress Wraps Up Fall Session

The staff for NCBA and Public Lands Council (PLC) are on Capitol Hill making sure cattlemen’s concerns are communicated to our nation’s lawmakers.  As the 109th Congress wraps up its fall session, here’s a look at the legislative issues NCBA addressed on your behalf.

Animal ID:  NCBA maintained congressional support for a producer-led animal movement database to support the National Animal Identification System.  In hearings this fall, cattle industry witnesses gave Congress updates on the database development and implementation.  Congressional leaders agree that a national animal identification system is a top priority, but they also agree that livestock producers should maintain the database to better protect confidentiality and maximize producer participation.  Legislation that would require USDA to develop a government-controlled animal movement database was considered as part of the fiscal year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations package, but was defeated thanks to cattlemen’s efforts.

Appropriations: NCBA worked to assure cattlemen’s priorities were considered during the long-winded appropriations process. A variety of amendments NCBA opposed were eventually dropped due to cattlemen’s efforts.  President Bush signed the $100.2 billion fiscal year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations bill Nov. 10, securing provisions important to cattlemen such as:

•  Funding for our animal health infrastructure including the National Animal Disease Center, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory and research on animal diseases and surveillance programs to better protect herd health. 

•  Funding for nutrition research.

•  $5 million earmarked for habitat restoration for sage grouse through farm bill programs.

•  Delay in funding for implementing the current mandatory country of origin labeling program for two years (until 2008), allowing industry and government to develop a workable program. 

Budget Reconciliation: Each year, NCBA works with Congress to maintain industry infrastructure priorities. NCBA worked with Capitol Hill offices during the budget reconciliation process, where some cuts in conservation programs were required. NCBA assured funding for priority programs was not undervalued. The House and Senate must now convene a conference committee to decide on a final package.   

CERCLA/Superfund:  NCBA was successful in calling for legislation that will exclude manure from regulation under Superfund or Community Right-to-Know laws.  Without congressional clarification, every livestock or poultry operation, or agricultural field or organic farming operation on which manure or manure compost is spread for fertilizer could be subject to highly regulated cleanup under Superfund law. 

NCBA reinforced these points in congressional testimony Nov. 17.

Endangered Species Issues:  NCBA successfully fought for swift, bipartisan passage of H.R. 3824, the “Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005” (TESRA), which passed Sept. 29. NCBA/PLC hope to see legislative action in the Senate this spring. Ranchers are urged to let theirs senators know the importance of ESA reform. The current ESA has been criticized for placing burdens on ranchers and other landowners, creating animosity between private citizens and government, and recovering less than 1 percent of species listed.

Grazing Issues:  At numerous congressional hearings, NCBA and PLC producer-members testified on a variety of grazing issues.  Among the witnesses were: Brenda Richards, a ranch operator from Murphy, Idaho, Nov. 10; Mike Webster, Idaho rancher and president-elect of the Idaho Cattle Association, Oct. 27; NCBA member and California cattleman Mike Byrne, Sept. 28; Byrne, along with Oregon cattleman Bob Skinner and Arizona cattleman Jim Chilton, April 13.  NCBA/PLC continue to communicate the importance of public lands grazing to Congress and call for policies that allow ranchers to operate in a more stable business climate.

Property Rights: Protecting private property rights is one of the founding principles of NCBA dating back to 1898. Congress held numerous hearings on this issue and introduced bills designed to protect property rights following the recent Supreme Court case Kelo v. City of New London.  The House on Nov. 3 passed H.R. 4128, the “Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005,” which withholds federal funds for the seizure of property for development by states or localities as allowed by the Supreme Court decision. Ranchers should contact their senators and urge them to support S. 1313, the “Protection of Homes, Small Businesses, and Private Property Act of 2005.”

Trade:  Since 96 percent of our world’s population lives outside the United States, trade is a top priority for NCBA and the surest way for cattlemen to increase market opportunities.  As we work to resume trade with our leading export markets and negotiate new trade agreements, Congress has worked to defend cattlemen’s interests.

•  CAFTA:  Congress passed and the president has signed  the U.S. Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement. NCBA spent many long hours fighting to pass this agreement, meeting with trade representatives, members of Congress, officially commenting on the negotiations, and working toward this final outcome —new market access opportunities for U.S. beef. 

•  Japan:  A top priority for NCBA has been resuming trade of U.S. beef with Japan, one of our top markets prior to BSE. Throughout the two-year embargo, members of Congress have been especially vocal on cattlemen’s behalf, crafting legislation, hosting hearings and press conferences and authoring letters. 

•  South Korea:  NCBA is working with Congress to gather support for a free trade agreement with South Korea.  In November, House members sent letters to President Bush and Korean Ambassador Tae Sik Lee encouraging the launch of free trade agreement negotiations with South Korea.  When reopened, U.S. beef faces some of the highest tariffs in the world in this market at 40 percent.  Prior to BSE in 2003, South Korea was one of our largest export markets, worth over $815 million annually, second only to Japan.