Thursday, May 9, 2002

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

Registration

1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

What's the latest news on the Farm Bill? What does the President's FY2003 budget have in store for U.S. agriculture? What is the fate of the Northeast Dairy Compact and dairy pricing? Experts will brief the Committee on all of these changing federal policies.

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

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

During this session, the Committee will receive an update from the U.S. Trade Representative's office regarding trade negotiations currently under way or anticipated, including the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the Andean Trade Agreement, and the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations.

Moderator:

Capitol Hill

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

AFI Steering Committee

6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill

Friday, May 10, 2002

Regency Foyer

Registration

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

Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation

U.S. Department of Agriculture

This briefing, to be held at the U.S. Department of Agriculture headquarters, will review changes in federal policies and practices to ensure that America's food supply is safe and secure from production on the farm to your home.

12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.

After eating, the Committee will review and debate several lobbying policies: Limiting the Use of Antibiotics as Routing Additives to Animal Feed and Water, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and World Trade Organization Negotiations. 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 issues emerging as in their states and other matters that may be surfacing in Washington of interest to the Committee.

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

1:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Presidential Trade Promotion Authority vs. State Sovereignty?

The Bipartisan Trade Promotion Authority Bill (H.R. 3005) will grant the President and the U.S. Trade Representative "fast track" authority to negotiate trade agreements that will be subject to a yea or nay vote, without any amendments, in Congress. But experience with the North American Free Trade Agreement's investment-state dispute resolution provisions (Chapter 11) have made many uncomfortable with the prospect that future agreements could include similar language. This session will examine the takings and state sovereignty concerns and efforts underway to provide guarantees that Chapter 11 will not be repeated.

Robert Stumberg, Harrison Institute for Public Law, Georgetown University Law Center

3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Limiting The Use Of Antibiotics As Routine Additives To Animal Feed and Water

At the 2001 Winter Meeting, a policy on this issue was introduced into the Environment Committee. Due to the subject matter, the policy was jointly referred to the Agriculture and International Trade Committee. The purpose of this joint session is to study the issue of antibiotics in animal feed in light of the introduced policy. Both Committees will take up the policy during their separate Committee Business Meetings.

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

Speakers:

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

AFI Steering Committee

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Reception at Canadian Embassy

Saturday, May 11, 2002

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

Registration

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

Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Special Briefings -- Implementation of the new Federal Education Act

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Special Briefing -- Homeland Security: Managing our Points of Entry

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

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

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

William Schneider, Senior Political Analyst, CNN

1:30 p.m.

Meeting Adjourns