Wednesday, December 5, 2001

8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Regency Foyer

Registration

1:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Congressional A

Nutrition, Agriculture, and Development: A Farm Bill Status Report
Joint Session with the AFI Human Services Committee

While there seems to be widespread intent on Capitol Hill to reauthorize the Farm Bill this year, competing interests may be crowding out the possibility of passage. During this session, congressional staff will discuss the several versions of the bill that are presently before the Senate and possible timelines for their consideration. The committees will consider the nutritional assistance title of the proposed bills. Finally, we will review the recommendations recently adopted by the Council of State Governments (CSG) Agriculture Policy Task Force.

Moderators:
Representative Maxine Bell, Idaho and Chair, AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee
Speaker:
Senator Stephen R. Morris, Kansas

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Valley Forge

Implications of International Treaties: Are Your State Laws Safe from Challenge?
Joint Session with the AFI Environment and ASI Natural Resources Committees

Private parties may challenge state laws under international treaties if the laws place unreasonable burdens on international commerce. Come find out the potential impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) on state environmental and agricultural laws.

Moderators:
Representative Philip Prelli, Connecticut and Vice Chair, AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee
Speaker:
Bill Waren, Fellow, Harrison Institute for Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center

4:45 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.
Yorktown

AFI Steering Committee

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Regency A

Opening Reception
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

Thursday, December 6, 2001

8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Regency Foyer

Registration

8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Yellowstone

During this time, the Committee will review, debate, and vote on two lobbying policies expiring as of the 2002 Annual Meeting in Denver: Beginner Farmer Programs and Payments in Lieu of Taxes Program. Members wishing to submit amendments to these policies or to introduce new policies are encouraged to provide those to Committee staff in advance of this Business Meeting. Following the Business Meeting, the Committee will engage in a roundtable discussion of the agriculture and trade emerging as front burner issues in their states and other matters that may be surfacing in Washington of interest to the Committee.

Presiding:
Representative Maxine Bell, Idaho and Chair, AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee

9:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Yellowstone

In the aftermath of the September 11^th, Americans have become increasingly aware of a whole host of security concerns. The protection of domestic agriculture and American food supplies ranks among those concerns. During this session, the Committee will discuss these critical homeland security issues.

Moderator:
Representative Bob Bastian, Pennsylvania and Vice Chair, AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee

12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Regency Ballroom

The security steps the country has taken since the September 11^th terrorist attacks and the role of state governments in this national effort is the focus of this session.

Speaker:
The Honorable Tom Ridge, Director, Office of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Olympic

Diversifying Rural Economies
Joint Session with ASI Economic and Cultural Development Committee

This session will explore what types of industries are best suited for rural areas and how states can best promote business development by ensuring that adequate financial resources are available. Panelists will review best practices as well as development tools being offered in the 2002 Farm Bill.

Moderator:
Representative Mike Derby, South Dakota, Chair, ASI Economic and Cultural Development Committee
Speakers:
Representative Roger Thomas, Kentucky and Vice Chair, AFI Agriculture and International Trade Committee
Ray Daffner, Manager, Entrepreneurship Initiative, Appalachian Regional Commission, Washington, DC
Joseph W. Dunn, Legislative Representative, National Association of Development Organizations

3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Committee members are encouraged to arrange appointments with the Congressmen and Senators to discuss matters important to NCSL and the Agriculture & International Trade Committee.

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Congressional E

AFI Steering Committee

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Starlight Room, Union Station

Reception at Union Station

Friday, December 7, 2001

7:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Columbia Wall

Registration

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Ticonderoga Wall

Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Special Briefings:

Columbia A/B 

The State Legislatures' Response to Terrorism
Sponsor: National Legislative Services and Security Association

Legislatures will tackle many tough aspects of the recent terrorist events in the next legislative session including: protecting water, electricity and natural gas supplies and infrastructure; maintaining fire and police forces as National Guard and reservists are called up for duty; and defining the crimes related to terrorism and the appropriate penalties. This session will examine these issues, explain how terrorists think about public buildings as targets, and clarify what federal actions may affect the states.

Valley Forge 

In an era of deregulation and competition, the existing telecommunications tax system is fast becoming unworkable and costly to administer for both state tax departments and telecommunications carriers. One area in which this is especially true is in determining which jurisdiction has authority to tax very mobile telecommunication services. This special briefing will discuss the federal Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act and state proposals to establish uniform rules.

Capitol Room 

In 1996, the federal government adopted historic welfare reform legislation, including the creation of the TANF block grant with tremendous policymaking flexibility for the states. As Congress approaches reauthorization this year, what are the key issues? With new budget pressures, will TANF funds be cut? Could flexibility be lost?

10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Columbia A/B

Legislators are encouraged to attend the Business Meeting in order to debate and vote on the policies that will govern NCSL's lobbying efforts.

12:15 - 2:00 p.m.
Ticonderoga/Yorktown

The federal budget has moved from record surpluses to great uncertainty in a few months. How will states be affected by the federal budget outlook? Will there be a reemergence of unfunded mandates and other cost shifts? This session officially closes the joint AFI and ASI meeting and opens the fiscal chairs seminar.

Speaker:
Stanley Collender, Senior Vice President, Fleishman-Hillard, Washington, D.C.

2:00 p.m.

Meeting Adjourns