Spring Forum 2006
April 6-8, 2006
Hyatt Regency, Washington, D.C.
Agriculture and Rural Development Standing Committee
Preliminary Agenda
(as of April 6, 2006)
Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday
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8:00 am - 12:00 pm |
Ancillary Groups, Task Forces, Staff Sections |
| 11:00 am - 6:00 pm |
Registration |
| 8:00 am - 9:00 am |
Breakfast at Restaurant at Hyatt Regency |
| 9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Visit Capitol Hill
Meet with Congress and Congressional Staff.
Presiding:
Representative Jeff Kropf, Oregon and Chair, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee |
| 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm |
Visit USDA
(Joint Session with Human Services and Welfare Committee)
The Committee will meet with USDA Secretary Michael Johanns.
Presiding:
Representative Jeff Kropf, Oregon and Chair, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, NCSL
Speaker:
The Honorable Michael Johanns, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture |
| 2:15 pm - 2:45 pm |
Standing Committee Session
The Committee will meet with the Chief Veterinary Officer, USDA, in the Whitten Building.
Presiding:
Representative Jeff Kropf, Oregon and Chair, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, NCSL
Speaker:
John Clifford, Deputy Administrator for Veterinarian Services, USDA |
| 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm |
Standing Committee Session
The Committee will meet with the Deputy Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Services, USDA, Room 205E in the Whitten Building.
Presiding:
Representative Jeff Kropf, Oregon and Chair, Agriculture & Rural Development Committee, NCSL
Speaker:
Ellen Terpstra, Deputy Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Services, USDA |
| 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
General Session – The 2006 National Agenda
 House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland will outline the Democratic perspective on the 2006 congressional agenda. Representative Hoyer, who was president of the Maryland Senate before coming to Congress, is speaking in place of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
 The Honorable George Reid, Presiding Officer, Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament NCSL's newest international affiliate. Presiding Officer Reid brings greetings from Scotland and will comment on the National Tartan Day celebrations in the United States. |
| 5:15 pm - 6:15 pm |
Steering Committee
Standing Committee Chairs, as members of the Standing Committee, should plan to attend. Officers will review the committees' plans for the year, preview any policies anticipated for debate, and make determinations regarding joint and re-referral of policy resolutions. |
| 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm |
Reception at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill |
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7:00 am - 6:00 pm |
Registration |
| 8:00 am - 9:30 am |
General Session Breakfast – The Administration’s Domestic Priorities
Speaker:
 The Honorable Michael Leavitt, Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services
Major changes made in the past few months to Medicaid, Medicare and welfare are of compelling interest to state legislatures. Secretary Leavitt, former governor of Utah, will provide an update on how the Department of Health and Human Services is implementing these critical state-federal programs. |
| 9:45 am - 10:45 am |
Standing Committee Session
Agricultural Trade in the Global Economy
Joint Session with Economic Development, Trade and Cultural Affairs
Speaker:
Andrew Stephens, Director for Bilateral Agricultural Affairs at the Office of the United States Trade Representative
Note: committees will discuss NCSL’s existing policy on Agricultural Trade |
| 10:45 am - 1:00 pm |
Standing Committee Session
Farm Bill Reauthorization: The View from Congress
Key Congressional Staff will be invited to discuss the timing of the Farm Bill reauthorization and the Farm Bill issues Congress will deal with in the legislation.
Speakers:
Steven Meeks, Senate Agriculture Committee, Majority Staff
Mark Halverson, Senate Agriculture Committee Miniority Staff
Bryan Dierlam, House Agriculture Committee Majority Staff
Chip Conley, House Agriculture Committee Minority Staff |
| 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm |
Standing Committee Session
Committee Business Meeting |
| 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm |
Standing Committee Session
Federal Update
Learn about the impact of recent federal legislation and regulation on National Farm Policy.
Speaker:
Lee Posey, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, NCSL |
| 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Standing Committee Session
Farm Bill Reauthorization: Insights from Key Players
In addition to Congress and the Administration, many organizations will be lobbying Congress regarding the Farm Bill. This session will provide insights from the major commodity groups and special interests who are affected by the upcoming bill.
Speakers:
Dennis Nuxoll, Director of Government Relations, American Farmland Trust
John Doggett, Vice President of Public Policy, National Corn Growers Association, Washington, DC
Jeffry Shipp, Executive Vice President, Farm Credit Council, Washington, DC |
| 5:15 pm - 6:00 pm |
Standing Committees’ Steering Committee
Standing Committee Chairs, as members of the Standing Committee, should plan to attend. The Steering Committee will review policy statements reported out of Committee and determine the calendars for the Policy Forum. |
| 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm |
Reception at the National Museum of the American Indian
Note: Transportation to and from the reception will be provided. Badges must be worn. |
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8:00 am - 1:00 pm |
Registration |
| 8:30 am - 10:30 am |
Special Briefing: The States and Global Climate Change
States and local governments have been the leaders in addressing climate change. This session will look at some of these recent approaches, as well as various proposed federal initiatives.
Special Briefing: Avian Flu and Public Health Preparedness
 Responding to a public health crisis is a joint responsibility of state, federal and local governments. Is the country prepared for a pandemic? What steps can state legislators and other officials take to deal effectively with avian flu and other public health crises? The Assistant Secretary of Health Admiral John O. Agwunobi, M.D., MBA, MPH will be responding to these questions
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| 10:45 am - 11:30 am |
Policy Forum: Debate and Voting on Official Policy Statements and Resolutions
Forum delegates will debate and vote on NCSL's policy statements and resolutions passed out of committees. Legislators are encouraged to attend. |
| 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm |
General Session Lunch – American’s Fiscal Future
The country’s long-term fiscal future is affected by the tough—and not-so-tough—choices that national officials make day-by-day and month-by-month. All of these decisions have direct impact on the integrity of states budgets. A respected critic of fiscal policy will describe what’s needed to secure our financial future.
Speaker:
 David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States |
| 1:45 pm - 5:00 pm |
Ancillary Groups |
Committee Chairs
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Chair: |
Representative Jeff Kropf, Oregon |
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Vice Chairs: |
Senator Thomas Middleton, Maryland
Representative Ben Ferry, Utah
Representative Mary E. Flowers, Illinois
Senator Larry Mumper, Ohio |
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Staff Chair: |
Sam Burr, Vermont |
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Staff Vice Chairs: |
Lowell Atchley, Kentucky
Jim Fry, South Dakota |
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Meeting Information
Four ways to register
Committee Staff Contacts
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