Agriculture and Energy Committee Agenda for 2010 Spring Forum (As of April 5, 2010)

April 8-10, 2010
Marriott Wardman
Washington, DC
NCSL Spring Forum web site 

Agriculture and Energy Commitee Officers and Staff

 Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Wednesday, April 7

Pre-Conference Workshops & Seminars, Task Forces, Working Groups

Agriculture and Energy Committee Meets

Agriculture & Energy Committee and Environment Committee Members meet with U.S. Department of Energy Officials

U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585

Please meet in the main hotel lobby at 12:45pm to board the bus for DOE.

**For interested legislators and legislative staff, the Director of the Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs for USDA, Jennifer Yezak will meet with interested legislators at the Marriott Wardman Park in the Coolidge Room at 2pm. Contact Lee Posey (lee.posey@ncsl.org) with questions.**

Opening General Session

Speaker: Secretary Steven Chu, U.S. Department of Energy

Steering Committee of the NCSL Standing Committees

The steering committee includes the overall standing committee officers and the legislator and staff chairs of each standing committee. Review of the committees' plans for the forum, preview policies under consideration at this meeting, and decide on joint and re-referral of policy resolutions if necessary.

Opening Reception

Day 2, Friday, April 9

Joint Session with NCSL Environment Committee

Controlling Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Cap and Trade. Carbon Tax. Command and Control Regulations. What really is the best policy tool for controlling greenhouse gas emissions? This session will explore the pros and cons of each policy option examine which choice may have the best chance at achieving a true paradigm shift in energy production and consumption.

Speakers:
Emily Figdor, Environment America, Washington, D.C.
Eric Holdsworth, Edison Electric Institute, Washington, D.C.

Agriculture & Energy Committee Policy Session

Committee members will discuss and vote on policy.

Presiding: Rep. John Heaton, Vice-Chair

Plenary Luncheon

Speaker: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
 

Joint Session with NCSL Environment Committee

Climate Models – Modeling is commonly used in many fields—including engineering, biology and physics—to improve our understanding the world around us. Since models don’t predict the future, but provide information on possible outcomes, “All models are wrong, some are useful,” has become a common saying among modelers. This session will provide an overview of the various climate models, why climate models vary in their forecasts and why these models are useful for scientists and policymakers.

Speaker: Professor J. Scott Armstrong, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Break

Agriculture & Energy Committee Session

Food Safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that food-borne illness causes 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths annually in the United States. Food producers pay an economic price as consumers worry about food safety. Federal legislation to enhance food safety is moving through Congress and enjoys popular support, and new initiatives are part of the President’s FY 2011 budget proposal. This panel discussion will be an update on activity in this area. This session is co-sponsored by the NCSL Task Force on Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

Speakers:
Adela Ramos, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.
Dan Roehl, National Restaurant Association, Washington, D.C.
Dr. John Sanders, Jr. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C.

Steering Committee of the NCSL Standing Committees

The steering committee will review the policies reported from the standing committees and determine the calendar for the Saturday business meeting.

Special Briefing Breakfast and Business Meeting