Annual Meeting & Exhibition
July 19-23, 2004
Salt Lake City, Utah

Agriculture and Rural Development Standing Committee
Preliminary Agenda

(as of July 12, 2004)

Monday| Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

Monday, July 19
8:00 am - 5:00 pm	Registration and Bookstore open
8:00 am - 5:15 pm Marriott Downtown	Pre-Conference Seminar Strengthening the Rural Health Workforce and Addressing Challenges to Rural Mental Health Care: State Policy Options Convened by NCSL with support from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy and the National Rural Health Association.
8:00 am - 4:00 pm Hilton Hotel	Pre-Conference Seminar Rural Policy Academy Convened by NCSL and the Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) with partial support  from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For registration and agenda information, visit http://ncsl.rupriconvene.org. Advance registration is required for this pre-conference.  Meeting participation by invitation only.
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Site visits	Site Visit Programs that Work: Better Services for Diverse Populations Sponsored by NCSL’s Immigrant Policy Project, Children’s Policy Initiative, and the Strengthening Families and Neighborhoods Partnership; supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. This program includes lunch and site visits to several highly acclaimed health, human services and workforce programs. Participants will learn about effective language acquisition and language access programs; visit Utah's one-stop centers that integrate cross-program workforce development and support services; and visit two faith-based programs serving Salt Lake City's diverse population. The two programs are Holy Cross Ministries' volunteer lay health worker, or promotora program and LDS Welfare Square, a welfare and hunger relief program that relies heavily on volunteerism. Both faith-based programs partner with other area organizations. Advance registration is required to reserve lunch and bus transportation. Please email ann.morse@ncsl.org to register.
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm Grand American Hotel Murano	Steering Committee The steering committee will review policy statements to be considered by the standing committees, and make determinations on joint resolutions and referral of resolutions. Presiding Senator Lana Oleen, Senate Majority Leader, Kansas and Chair, NCSL Standing Committees Jack Hailey, Staff Director, Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, California and Staff Chair, NCSL Standing Committees
Tuesday, July 20
7:30 am - 9:00 am	Continental breakfast for all delegates
8:00 am - 5:00 pm	Registration and Bookstore open
8:30 am - 10:00 am Salt Palace Ballroom A-D	Opening Plenary Jobs for the New Economy The changing nature of employment in the US was dramatized by the slow recovery of jobs from the recession of 2000. How well is the economy creating new jobs? What’s the real meaning of outsourcing? What are the short term and long term prospects for the growth of quality jobs in this country? Moderating: Senator Steve Rauschenberger, Illinois and Vice President, NCSL Speakers: John Castellani, President, The Business Roundtable, District of Columbia David A. Wyss, Chief Economist, Standard and Poors, New York, New York
10:00 am - 11:45 am Salt Palace Room 259	Committee Session Committee Business Meeting Committee members will be invited to report on conferences or meetings they have attended that may be of interest to the larger membership. The Committee will review and debate state-federal policies. Time allowing, the Committee will also engage in a roundtable discussion of the agriculture or rural policy issues emerging in their states and other matters that may be surfacing in Washington of interest to the Committee. Presiding: Representative Roger Thomas, Kentucky and Chair, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, NCSL Barry Denk, Executive Director, Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania and Staff Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, NCSL
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm	Luncheon Republican Lunch - Prime Hotel Democratic Lunch - Mariott Downtown Legislative Staff Lunch - Salt Palace Ballroom A-D
1:45 pm - 3:00 pm Salt Palace Room 260	Committee Session Rural Family Economic Success and Roundtable The Anne E. Casey Foundation’s mission is to improve outcomes for the most disadvantaged children and has found that rural children are among some of the most disadvantaged in the country.  Building on the core belief “that children do well when their families do well and that families do better when they live in supportive communities,” the Foundation for several years has been developing a framework for Family Economic Success (FES) to help foster policies and approaches that build families and communities.  While the Foundation has typically focused on urban or inner-city communities, it is now turning some attention to Rural America and is interested in retooling the FES model for rural communities.  During this session, the Foundation’s Miriam Shark will provide an overview of the RuFES framework to the Committee.  In particular, Miriam will discuss the 'policy module' of RuFES -- a variety of tools especially developed for policymakers on, among other things, how to assure that rural constituencies are getting their tax credits and other federal benefits, jobs and workforce strategies that work in rural communities, and effective tools for helping rural families build assets and avoid predatory financial services.  The Committee  will also reserve some time to discuss NCSL’s state-federal relations policies on rural issues. Presiding: Representative Ben Ferry, Utah and Vice Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development Speaker: Miriam Shark, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm Salt Palace Room 260	Committee Session WTO Cotton Case Joint with Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs With Brazil in the lead, a group of developing countries filed a case against the United States at the World Trade Organization claiming that U.S. subsidies for cotton distorted international trade to the detriment of their economies.  The WTO has indicated an inclination to rule against the United States and in favor of Brazil.  What implications could this decision have for global agricultural trade?  For American farm and agricultural policy?  This session will begin a discussion on those questions. Presiding: Representative Clay Pope, Oklahoma and Vice Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development, NCSL Hannah Shostack, Principal Research Analyst, Office of Legislative Speaker: Kym Anderson, Lead Economist, International Trade Unit, Development Research Group, World Bank, District of Columbia
4:45 pm - 5:30 pm Salt Palace Room 256 C	Committee Session Committee Business Meeting The Committee will discuss and review any expiring policies requiring attention. Presiding: Representative Roger Thomas, Kentucky and Chair, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, NCSL
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Utah State Capitol Temple Square	Reception Welcome Reception Enjoy Utah fare, mix and mingle with friends, and get reacquainted at this elegant event at the Utah State Capitol, overlooking the fabulous Salt Lake Valley. After the reception, attend a private concert especially for NCSL given by the world-famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
Wednesday, July 21
7:30 am - 8:30 am	Coffee service for all delegates
8:00 am - 9:15 am Salt Palace Room 250 D-E	Committee Session Bush and Kerry Campaigns on Agriculture and Rural Policy The committee will hear from and discuss issues with a representative from President Bush’s and from Senator Kerry’s campaign staffs on agriculture and rural development elements in their campaign platforms. Presiding: Representative Roger Thomas, Kentucky and Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development, NCSL Speakers: Bush-Cheney ’04, Virginia (invited) John Kerry for President, District of Columbia (invited)
9:30 am - 10:45 am	Committee Session National Agriculture Policy The Committee will discuss and review the National Agriculture Policy. Presiding: Representatie Jeff Kropf, Oregon and Vice Chair, Standing Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development, NCSL (invited) Speaker: Bill Hawks, Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, US Department of Agriculture, District of Columbia
11:00 am - 1:00 pm Salt Palace Room 258	Committee Session Renewable Energy: Innovative Ideas and State Policy Joint with Energy & Electric Utilities The committees will hear about new energy possibilities that could offer economic development opportunities for agriculture and for rural areas from coal and wind, biomass and geothermal heat pumps. Presiding: Scott Young, Legislative Counsel Bureau, Nevada Speakers: Representative George Eskridge, Idaho Representative Hermina Morita, Hawaii Mark Nechodom, US Department of Agriculture, California Antone (Tony) Rude, Great Northern Power, Minnesota Cary Smith, Sound Georthermal Corporation, Utah
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Salt Palace Room 260	Steering Committee The Steering Committee will establish the calendars for the Annual Business Meeting, which will be held Friday, July 23, at 10:45 am. Presiding: Delegate Sheila Hixson, Maryland and Vice Chair, NCSL Standing Committees Guy Cherry, Senior Policy Analyst, Dept of Legislative Services, Maryland and Staff Vice Chair, NCSL Standing Committees Judy Hall, Secretary of the Senate, Legislative Assembly, Oregon and Staff Vice Chair, NCSL Standing Committees
1:15 pm -  3:00 pm Salt Palace Room 251 C	Relevant Concurrent Session State-Tribal Relations: Cross-Jurisdictional Issues and Intergovernmental Cooperation Cross-jurisdictional issues between states and tribes arise in many areas including judicial systems, environmental protection, and taxation and revenue sharing. This session will identify models for fostering communication and collaboration between state and tribal governments and focus on cooperative agreements between court systems and law enforcement agencies. Moderators: Chairman Ron Allen, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Sequim, Washington Senator Lana Oleen, Senate Majority Leader, Kansas and Chair, NCSL Standing Committees Panelists: John Dossett, General Counsel, National Congress of American Indians, District of Columbia Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians Representative John McCoy, Washington Pamela Ray, Staff Attorney, Legislative Council Service, New Mexico Andrea Wilkins, Environment, Energy and Transportation Program, NCSL
1:15 pm -  3:00 pm Salt Palace Room 251 F	Relevant Concurrent Session The Methamphetamine Menace It has raged across the country from the rural West to the biggest cities. States are involving officials in law enforcement, human services, health, environment and other agencies because of the complex impact of this drug on individuals and systems. This session will examine these issues and novel ways to respond to them. Presiding: Senator Ben Westlund, Oregon Speakers: Wayne Stenehjem, Attorney General, South Dakota Marjean Searcy, Project Coordinator, Salt Lake City COPS Methamphetamine Initiative, Utah Diane Galloway, former director, Substance Abuse Agency, Wyoming
1:15 pm - 5:00 pm	Staff Sections
Evening	States’ Night
Thursday, July 22
8:00 am - 9:00 am	Coffee service for all delegates
8:00 am -  5:00 pm	Registration and Bookstore open
8:30 am - 10:30 am Salt Palace Room 251 D-E	Relevant Concurrent Session Immigration Reform: Who Gets Helped? Who Gets Hurt? Sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation President Bush and members of Congress have proposed different solutions to illegal immigration. The issues are complex: the need for labor from abroad, the merits of amnesty, the possibility of increasing illegal immigration unintentionally. This session will examine the expectations of states, business, labor and immigrants themselves, and the prospects for reform. Presiding Speakers: Honorable Asa Hutchinson, Undersecretary, Border and Transportation Security, Department of Homeland Security, District of Columbia Randel Johnson, Vice President for Labor, Immigration and Employee Benefits, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, District of Columbia Charity Wilson, Senior Policy Analyst, Public Policy Department, AFL-CIO, District of Columbia
10:45 am - 12:15 pm Salt Palace Room 251 F	Relevant Concurrent Session Finding New Dollars to Finance Transportation Even while they hope for increased federal money under a new congressional surface transportation bill, states face a backlog of highway and transit projects and congestion that is worse than ever. What financing opportunities are available for state transportation needs? Hear the latest on state and federal financing innovations from a panel of transportation finance specialists. Presiding Speakers
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Salt Palace Ballroom A-D	Luncheon Legislators Luncheon Sponsored by the State Government Affairs Council No matter what level of leadership success we have achieved, none of us can be content to stay where we are. Stephen Covey draws on 25 years of consulting and teaching experience to provide new ideas, methods and practices that will improve our skills. Presiding: Speaker Martin Stephens, Utah and President, NCSL Speaker: Stephen Covey, Author, Utah
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm	Luncheon Staff Section Luncheons Leadership Staff Section - Salt Palace Room 151 F Legal Services Staff Section - Salt Palace Room 255 A-B Research and Committee Staff Section - Salt Palace Room 255 C
2:15 pm - 3:45 pm Salt Palace Room 250 F	Relevant Concurrent Session NAFTA at 10: What it Means for the States In 10 years, NAFTA has brought the United States gains and losses. Trade is up but jobs have moved. States have modified or eliminated laws reviewed as barriers to trade. This session will examine NAFTA, and how the trade agreement has changed state policies Presiding: Senator Liz Figueroa, California (invited) Speakers: Honorable Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament, Parliament of Canada, CANADA Bill Waren, Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University Law Center, District of Columbia
2:15 pm - 5:00 pm	Staff Sections
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm	Ancillary Groups
6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Olympic Center	Reception Social Event at Olympic Center Experience the chills, thrills, and spills of the Olympic Oval where U.S. athletes won 10 Olympic medals and eight world records were set. You will have the opportunity to get your picture taken with Olympic athletes on the podium where the gold medals were awarded. Enjoy demonstrations in slap shot hockey, curling, figure skating, and speed skating.
Friday, July 23
8:00 am - 9:00 am	Coffee service for all delegates
8:30 am - 10:00 am Salt Palace Ballroom A-D	Closing Plenary Election 2004 - Insight, Analysis Perspective Sponsored by State Legislatures Magazine From the White House to the Statehouse, the results of November’s elections will shape all approaches to America’s issues. Bill Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard is well-known as a shrewd political observer and commentator. Donna Brazile, Al Gore’s campaign manager in 2000, knows politics from the trenches as well as the towers of CNN and the talk shows. If anyone can tell you what will happen in November 2004, it’s this pair. Presiding: Delegate John Hurson, Maryland and President-elect, NCSL Speakers: Donna Brazile, Commentator, CNN, Georgetown University, District of Columbia William Kristol, Editor, Weekly Standard, District of Columbia
10:15 am - 12:15 pm Salt Palace Ballroom H-J	NCSL Policy and Business Meeting All legislators and legislative staff will want to attend this centerpiece of the NCSL Annual Meeting. Other annual meeting participants are welcome as observers. The business meeting is the culmination of the conference year. It includes debate of policy resolutions that will guide NCSL's lobbying of the federal government in the coming year, as well as election of NCSL's officers and executive committee and approval of the NCSL budget. Presiding: Speaker Martin Stephens, Utah and President, NCSL Senator Lana Oleen, Senate Majority Leader, Kansas and Chair, NCSL Standing Committees

The NCSL Standing Committee on Agriculture & Rural Development
will next meet during NCSL’s Fall Forum to be held in
Savannah, Georgia

December 8 - 10, 2004.
Please Plan to Attend.

For additional information about the Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, please contact either Jeremy Meadows at (202) 624-8664 or jeremy.meadows@ncsl.org, or Doug Farquhar at (303) 856-1397 or doug.farquhar@ncsl.org.

Meeting Information

• Meeting Home Page
• Program Agenda
• Registration Information
• Online Registration
• Housing 
• Travel

Four ways to register

• Online
• Fax: 303 364-7811
• Mail: NCSL Registration
  P.O. Box 17972
  Denver, CO 80217
• Onsite after June 22

 Staff Contacts

• Jeremy Meadows, DC Office 
• Doug Farquhar, Denver Office