11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Ticonderoga Wall

Registration

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Agriculture and International Trade Committee Meetings

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Lexington

Navigating International Trade Waters-Forward, Back, Left or Right?
Speakers: Jason Hafemeister, Director for WTO Agricultural Negotiations, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR);
Christina Sevilla, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, USTR
In recent months, debate has raged over the direction of trade policy in Congress and the Bush administration. This session will seek to discern U.S. trade policy as it relates to new agreements and developments at the World Trade Organization.

2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lexington

Agriculture and International Trade Committee Business Meeting
Presiding: Representative Bill Friend, Indiana, NCSL Agriculture and International Trade Committee Chair
Members will debate and vote on renewal of NCSL's policy on Presidential Fast Track Negotiating Authority.

3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Lexington

Animal Health Threats: Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You?
Speaker: Tom Gomez, Veterinary Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
Gary Weber, Executive Director for Regulatory Affairs, National Cattlemen's Beef Association
BSE ("mad cow disease") and foot and mouth disease have struck foreign livestock and wreaked havoc with agricultural markets around the globe. What risks do these animal health threats pose to livestock in this country and what measures can the federal government and states take to protect U.S. agriculture?
Members will debate and vote on one new policy: Temporary Suspension of Meat Imports.

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Ticonderoga

Assembly on Federal Issues Steering Committee

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Regency A

Opening Reception

7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Ticonderoga Wall

Registration

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

Opening Plenary Breakfast
Speaker: The Honorable Edward Kennedy (MA), U.S. Senate

9:45 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Agriculture and International Trade Committee Meetings

9:30 a.m.

Buses Depart for the U.S. Department of Agriculture from the Front Entrance of the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill

9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Williamsburg Room
USDA Whitten Building

A Blank Slate for Rural Policy: A Special Program to Launch NCSL's Lobbying on the 2002 Farm Bill and Federal Nutrition Programs
Speaker: The Honorable Ann Veneman, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Discussion will take place in a roundtable format and focus on state-federal issues in the 2002 Farm Bill including natural resource conservation, rural development, competition, research and international trade.

11:00 a.m.

Buses Depart for the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill from the U.S. Department of Agriculture

11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Valley Forge

Agricultural Competition in the 21^st Century: Where to Next for the Traditional Family Farm?
Agriculture and International Trade Committee Lunch
Speakers: Gerald Grinnell, Director of Economic and Statistical Support, USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration;
Randy Woodson, Associate Dean and Director, Office of Agricultural Research Programs, Purdue University
Agricultural mergers, production patterns, low commodity prices and other factors have created unprecedented competitive challenges for producers. States and the federal government must cooperate to promote competition, support research and improve opportunities for farmers and ranchers. What policies will NCSL advocate as these issues are hammered out in the 2002 Farm Bill?
Members will vote on marketing, research and development components of NCSL's National Agriculture policy. Members will also vote on two new policies: Reform of Federal Livestock Price Reporting Confidentiality Rules and Temporary Suspension of Regulatory Approval of Further Mergers of Large Meatpacking Companies.

1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Valley Forge

Building a Comprehensive State-Federal Rural Policy
Speakers: Matt Chase, Deputy Executive Director, National Association of Development Organizations;
Eric Ciliberti, Associate Legislative Director, National Association of Counties
Sustaining and improving economic opportunities for rural communities has been among the greatest challenges facing state and federal policymakers. Integrating creative solutions into the next farm bill and creating a dynamic state-federal partnership will be key not only to agriculture but the fabric of rural America.
Members will vote on rural policy components of NCSL's National Agriculture policy.

2:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Valley Forge

Reforming the Alphabet Soup of Natural Resource Conservation Programs
Speakers: Mack Gray, Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Conservation, U.S. Department of Agriculture;
Charlie Ingram, Manager, Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture programs including EQIP, CRP, WHIP and WRP currently operate alongside a range of programs overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, other federal agencies and state initiatives. How can these different measures be woven into a seamless package that best conserves our natural resources?
Members will vote on natural resource conservation components of NCSL's National Agriculture policy.

4:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Valley Forge

Agriculture Roundtable and Strategy Session for the 2002 Farm Bill
During this session, members will have the opportunity to discuss agricultural issues in an informal, roundtable format and outline NCSL's lobbying strategies for the farm bill.

5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Capitol Room

Assembly on Federal Issues Steering Committee

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sewall-Belmont House

Reception
The Sewall-Belmont House is within walking distance of the hotel. There will be mini-buses provided for those who do not wish to walk. Walking instructions will be provided at the registration desk.

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Capitol Room

Registration

8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Special Briefings and Continental Breakfast

Columbia A

Federal Education Reform Proposals
Speakers: Chester Finn, The Fordham Foundation, Washington, D.C.;
Joel Packer, National Education Association, Washington, D.C.;
David Shreve, Senior Committee Director, NCSL

Conference Theater

National Energy
Shawn Intorcio, Manager, Standard and Poor's DRI Global Energy Services
Speakers: William Kovacs, Vice President of Environment, Technology and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce;
Michael Oldak, Director, State Competitive and Regulatory Policies, Edison Electric Institute;
Bill Prindle, Director of Buildings and Utilities Programs, Alliance to Save Energy

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Capitol Room

Assembly on Federal Issues Business Meeting
Consideration of Policy Resolutions

12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Congressional A

Closing Plenary Luncheon