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AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee
December 9-11, 1998, AFI/ASI Joint Winter Meeting Summary

The NCSL AFI/ASI Joint Winter Meeting was held from December 9-11, 1998 in Washington, D.C. During that time, the committee met with representatives of the federal government and the private sector to discuss pressing issues affecting agriculture and international trade. Additionally, the committee adopted two important policies related to rural development and overseas private investment. These policies will guide NCSL's lobbying on these issues in the 106^th Congress. Copies of the policies and handouts are available from Dave Naftzger at 202-624-8662. Information is also available on the committee's home page

Representative Clay Pope, Oklahoma, Chair; Representative Larry Diedrich, South Dakota, Vice-Chair; Representative Thomas Jackson, Alabama, Vice-Chair; Representative Jim Poolman, North Dakota, Vice-Chair; and Representative Philip Prelli, Connecticut, Vice-Chair, presided over the committee sessions that are summarized below. In addition, the committee officers met with Chuck Fox, EPA Director of Water, and other officials from EPA and USDA to discuss the recently-unveiled EPA/USDA draft unified strategy on animal feeding operations. The committee will reconvene at the AFI spring meeting to be held from May 6-8, 1999 in Washington, D.C.

This session focused on the policy options available to Congress in light of the state of the agricultural economy. Included in the discussion were options available to the 106^th Congress regarding crop insurance and emergency relief.

Committee Luncheon and Discussion: Food Safety

This session provided an overview of President Clinton's Council on Food Safety. Deputy Undersecretary Wilcox discussed plans to reform the U.S. food safety system with members of the committee.

Agricultural Trade: Overview of NCSL/U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Project

The committee discussed the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service/NCSL partnership focusing on agricultural trade. An overview of the Foreign Agricultural Service was followed by a discussion of agricultural policy with Undersecretary Schumacher.

Agriculture & International Trade Committee Policy Session

The committee adopted two policy resolutions: Rural Development Block Grants and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). These policies were subsequently adopted at the Business Meeting.

State Sanctions in the Global Marketplace

The constitutionality and effectiveness of state sanctions was discussed in conjunction with recent litigation on this issue.

E-Mail: david.naftzger@ncsl.org

AFI Agriculture & International Trade Committee

State-Federal Relations