D.C. Issues Update
Cattlemen hear update of what's happening in Washington during the NCBA Policy Forum.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) members engaged in policy development met with the association’s Washington, D.C., staff Feb. 5, during the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas. In preparation for the following day’s policy-driving committee meetings, Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall and other NCBA staffers informed cattlemen about developments associated with priority issues.
Woodall recounted recent favorable events counted as “wins” for NCBA lobbying efforts. Heading the list was the scrapping of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s plan to create a second beef checkoff to be administered by USDA. Additionally, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) interpretive rule was rescinded. Woodall explained that the rule placed virtually every ditch, pond and puddle within “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and subject to regulation by EPA.
Woodall said passage of improved legislation affecting public lands grazing will make grazing permits more secure.
“In the current political climate, I think these should be considered huge victories,” said Woodall. “With Republicans now in control of the House and Senate, I’m optimistic about 2015.”
While last year’s hopes for tax reform were dashed, Woodall said the new Congress appears more inclined to try to improve the 30-year-old tax code. NCBA will continue efforts to abolish the death tax.
Woodall said NCBA must remain watchful of the current administration’s efforts to push forward with its regulatory agenda, being particularly watchful of EPA. One thing on which NCBA and the Obama administration can agree is the need for Congress to reauthorize presidential trade promotion authority (TPA) to ease foreign trade negotiations. NCBA also favors passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, which promises to enhance U.S beef exports to multiple countries in Southeast Asia.
Woodall warned cattlemen to expect retaliation from Canada in response to the mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law. Noting how the World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled — three times — that COOL constitutes a trade barrier, Woodall said Canadian officials are prepared to place tariffs on a long list of U.S. products, including beef. A tariff on beef is expected to cost the U.S. beef industry in excess of $2 billion dollars.
Mexico has not announced retaliatory plans, but Woodall expects a similar reaction from south of the Rio Grande. NCBA staffers said they believe there are a number of congressmen ready to work on killing COOL. Their discussions are no longer about compromise, but focus on repeal.
“There is plenty to do,” said Woodall. “We’re under pressure to get things done — as much as we can — before silly season starts and Congress turns its attention to 2016 elections.”
For more coverage of the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, visit the Newsroom at www.4cattlemen.com.
