Spring 2001 AFI Meeting Summary, May 10-12, 2001

AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee
May 10-12, 2001
NCSL Spring AFI Meeting Summary

The NCSL Assembly on Federal Issues Spring Meeting was held from May 10-12, 2001 in Washington, D.C. The Agriculture and International Trade committee kicked off the meeting on May 10 with brief presentations from Thea Lea, Assistant Director for International Economics, AFL-CIO, and Heather Wingate, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs on Presidential Trade Promotion Authority. Members subsequently renewed NCSL's policy on this issue. The committee also held informational sessions on the international trade agenda and animal health threats. The committee then met with Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to launch NCSL's lobbying on the 2002 Farm Bill. Informational sessions were held on competition, rural development and natural resource conservation. The committee adopted three new policies: Temporary Suspension of Meat Imports, Reform of Federal Livestock Price Reporting Confidentiality Rules and Temporary Suspension of Regulatory Approval of Further Mergers of Large Meatpacking Companies. A revised National Agriculture Policy was adopted and all committee policies were affirmed at the plenary business meeting. Copies of the policies and handouts are available from Dave Naftzger or Steve Smith at 202-624-5400. Information is also available on the committee's home page.

Navigating International Trade Waters-Forward, Back, Left or Right?

Presiding:	Representative Philip Prelli, Connecticut, NCSL Agriculture and International Trade Committee Vice-Chair
Speakers:	Jason Hafemeister, Director for WTO Agricultural Negotiations, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR); Christina Sevilla, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, USTR
Handouts:	AFL-CIO Fact Sheet: Fast Track; Bush Trade Agenda Facing Tough Audience in Congress; Chile Pushing Free Trade Agreement With U.S. to Go Beyond NAFTA or FTAA; The FTAA Investment Agreement: Why NAFTA's Investment Chapter is a High-Risk Model; Launching New WTO Talks Requires Early U.S. Leadership, WTO Official Says; Paying to Regulate: A Guide to Methanex v. United States & NAFTA Investor Rights; Prepared Testimony By Mickey Kantor, Leland Swenson, Thomas J. Donohue and Alan Greenspan; Renewing America's Leadership on Trade: U.S. Trade Promotion Authority; WTO Negotiations: Potential Gains from Ag Policy Reform

The committee discussed the international trade agenda and negotiations involving agriculture.

Agriculture and International Trade Committee Business Meeting

Presiding:

Representative Bill Friend, Indiana, NCSL Agriculture and International Trade Committee Chair

Members renewed NCSL's policy on Presidential Fast Track Negotiating Authority and renamed it Presidential Trade Promotion Authority.

Animal Health Threats: Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You?

Presiding:	Senator Merton "Cap" Dierks, Nebraska, NCSL Agriculture and International Trade Committee Vice-Chair
Speakers:	Tom Gomez, Veterinary Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Gary Weber, Executive Director for Regulatory Affairs, National Cattlemen's Beef Association
Handouts:	FMD & BSE: What Every Producer Needs to Know; Senate Passes Bill Requiring USDA to Take Steps to Prevent Mad Cow Disease

During this session, the committee discussed how BSE ("mad cow disease") and foot and mouth disease have struck foreign livestock and affected international agricultural markets. The committee adopted one new policy: Temporary Suspension of Meat Imports.

A Blank Slate for USDA Policy: A Special Program to Launch NCSL's Lobbying on the 2002 Farm Bill and Federal Nutrition Programs

Presiding:	Senator Jim Costa, NCSL President
Speaker:	The Honorable Ann Veneman, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Handouts:	Administration Asks Congress for $60 Billion to Fund Agriculture Department in FY 2002; The Budget for Fiscal Year 2002: Agriculture; NCSL Issue Brief: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations NCSL Issue Brief: Farm Bill; NCSL Issue Brief: Interstate Shipment of State-Inspected Meat and Poultry; NCSL Issue Brief: State Beginning Farmer Program

Members engaged Secretary Veneman in a roundtable discussion on state-federal issues in the 2002 Farm Bill and federal nutrition programs.

Agricultural Competition in the 21^st Century: Where to Next for the Traditional Family Farm?

Presiding:	Representative Maxine Bell, Idaho, NCSL Agriculture and International Trade Committee Vice-Chair
Speakers:	Gerald Grinnell, Director of Economic and Statistical Support, USDA Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration; Randy Woodson, Associate Dean and Director, Office of Agricultural Research Programs, Purdue University
Handout:	U.S. Farm Economy in 2001

During this session, the committee discussed state and federal measures to promote competition, support research and improve opportunities for farmers and ranchers. Members approved marketing, research and development components of NCSL's National Agriculture policy and adopted two new policies: Reform of Federal Livestock Price Reporting Confidentiality Rules and Temporary Suspension of Regulatory Approval of Further Mergers of Large Meatpacking Companies.

Building a Comprehensive State-Federal Rural Policy

Presiding:	Representative Philip Prelli, Connecticut, NCSL Agriculture and International Trade Committee Vice-Chair
Speakers:	Matt Chase, Deputy Executive Director, National Association of Development Organizations; Eric Ciliberti, Associate Legislative Director, National Association of Counties
Handout:	A NADO News Special Report: An Analysis of the Bush Administration's FY 2002 Budget Plan

This session focused on rural development programs in the 2002 Farm Bill. Members approved rural policy components of NCSL's National Agriculture policy.

Reforming the Alphabet Soup of Natural Resource Conservation Programs

Presiding:	Senator Merton "Cap" Dierks, Nebraska, NCSL Agriculture and International Trade Committee Vice-Chair
Speakers:	Mack Gray, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Charlie Ingram, Manager, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Handout:	Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: Early Results from a Federal-State Partnership

During this session, the committee discussed federal conservation programs and proposals for the 2002 Farm Bill. Members approved natural resource conservation components of NCSL's National Agriculture policy.

The next meeting of the AFI Agriculture and International Trade committee will be August 11-15, 2001 at the NCSL Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Please plan to join us!

AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee May 10-12, 2001 NCSL Spring AFI Meeting Summary

AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee
May 10-12, 2001
NCSL Spring AFI Meeting Summary