In Agriculture news, Politico reports that five food, agriculture groups descend on returning Congress. Here is an overview of what they are lobbying for: NFU: This group is a strong supporter of country-of-origin labeling, which tells consumers where their meat, seafood and produce come from, though the meat processing industry has been lobbying to have the rule require less specific language. As the World Trade Organization is expected to release its decision later this month in a dispute over the COOL rule, COOL opponents have reportedly been lobbying Congress to force changes. NFU members also will be asking lawmakers to reject the EPA’s proposal to reduce the amount of ethanol that needs to be blended into gasoline. AFFI: The frozen food industry’s leaders plan on encouraging Congress to fund the food safety system with appropriations instead of new taxes and fees. AFFI members are also going to be asking to expand the USDA’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program beyond just fresh produce — something United Fresh and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) have fought hard to keep limited. NGA: It will have a team of representatives from its government relations committee on the Hill to discuss the importance of tax extenders, mandatory menu labeling and to advocate for changes in the definition of a full time employee under the Affordable Care Act. The group has lined up face-to-face meetings with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). NPPC: The pork producers plan to have between 125 and 150 of their members fly in to speak with lawmakers on Sept. 10 and 11. In particular, they are concerned about EPA’s Waters of the United States rule. The group also has an interest in the next Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee meeting, which is scheduled for Sept. 16 and 17 in Washington. United Fresh: Its members have two top asks: Pass immigration reform and don’t back down on school lunch reform requirements that students take a half cup serving of fruits or vegetables. --- The National Hmong American Farmers will be hosting the Hmong Farmers/AAPI Round Table Discussion in Albermarle, NC from September 21-22, 2014. National Hmong-American Farmers (NHAF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote economic well-being among Hmong-Americans, small and minority farmers in Fresno County, California. Follow them out on Facebook. --- Yesterday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $328 million in conservation funding is being invested to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands across the nation. The USDA initiative will benefit wildlife and promote outdoor recreation and related sectors of the economy. The funding is provided through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect critical wetlands and encourage producers to keep lands in farming and ranching. Approximately 380 projects nationwide were selected to protect and restore 32,000 acres of prime farmland, 45,000 acres of grasslands and 52,000 acres of wetlands. A summary of ACEPfunding provided to each state can be found online. *** In Immigration news, The Washington Post profiles Cecilia Muñoz, President Obamas domestic policy director and the highest-ranking Hispanic official in the White House. According to the article, Time and again, she has had to defend a president whose inability to stem many of the removals has disappointed Latino voters, who supported him in record numbers. This has often placed Muñoz in the uncomfortable position of squaring off against her former colleagues. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said he wont criticize the president for waiting to take executive action to impose immigration reforms until after the fall elections. He further explained, “I share [the immigration activists] disappointment. Don’t forget where it starts. It starts with a Republican House of Representatives which refuses to call the bipartisan immigration reform bill. If they had accepted their responsibility, as they promised too over and over again, we wouldn’t be in this situation today. *** In Voting Rights news, the November 4, 2014 midterm elections are fast approaching. Here is a breakdown: U.S. Senate elections Main article: United States Senate elections, 2014 All seats in Senate Class II will be up for election. Additionally, special elections will be held to fill vacancies in the other two Senate Classes. States with a Class 2 senator: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado,Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon,Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,West Virginia, and Wyoming. U.S. House of Representatives elections Main article: United States House of Representatives elections, 2014 All 435 voting seats in the United States House of Representatives will be up for election. Additionally, elections will be held to select the delegates for theDistrict of Columbia and four of the five U.S. territories. The only seat in the House not up for election will be the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico, who serves a four-year term. That is it for the news today. Here are the floor schedules for the Senate and the House: Senate Floor Schedule for Tuesday, September 9, 2014 The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, September 9, 2014. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the Majority controlling the next 30 minutes. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.19, post-cloture. S.J. Res. 19 is a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections. The Senate will recess from 12:30 until 2:15pm. All time during any period of morning business, adjournment or recess will count post-cloture. COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY List of hearings and committee meetings. Tune in to the Senate here. House Floor Schedule for Tuesday, September 9, 2014 On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, no votes are expected. Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules: 1) H.R. 5057 – EPS Service Parts Act of 2014, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Cory Gardner / Energy and Commerce Committee) 2) S. 276 – A bill to reinstate and extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the American Falls Reservoir (Sponsored by Sen. James Risch / Energy and Commerce Committee) 3) H.R. 5161 – E-LABEL Act (Sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta / Energy and Commerce Committee) 4) H.R. 4067 – To provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014(Sponsored by Rep. Lynn Jenkins / Energy and Commerce Committee) 5) H.R. 4701 – Vector-Borne Disease Research Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Gibson / Energy and Commerce Committee) 6) H.R. 4290 – Wakefield Act of 2014 (Sponsored by Rep. Jim Matheson / Energy and Commerce Committee) 7) H.R. 3670 – Anti-Spoofing Act of 2013 (Sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng / Energy and Commerce Committee) 8) H.R. 669 – Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act (Sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone / Energy and Commerce Committee) H.R. 5078- Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Southerland / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) H.Res. 644- Condemning and disapproving of the Obama administration’s failure to comply with the lawful statutory requirement to notify Congress before releasing individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and expressing national security concerns over the release of five Taliban leaders and the repercussions of negotiating with terrorists (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Scott Rigell / Armed Services Committee) H.R. 3522- Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2013 (Subject to a Rule)(Sponsored by Rep. Bill Cassidy / Energy and Commerce Committee / Ways and Means Committee) Possible Consideration of a Continuing Resolution COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY List of hearings and committee meetings. Tune in to the House here. Have a great day! -- Gary Redding, Legal Fellow Rural Coalition 1029 Vermont Avenue, NW Suite 601 Washington, DC 20005 Tel: (202) 628-7160 Email: [email protected] -- --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 2013 Farm Bill group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected].
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:56:04 +0000
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