August 4, 2000

Take advantage of August recess

By Steve Pringle
TFB Legislative Director

Congress still has work to do.

The 535 members of Congress are departing on their annual August recess. There is unfinished business to take care of when they return to Washington in September. There are several very important issues impacting agriculture that are still unresolved.

Farm Bureau members will have an excellent opportunity during the recess to talk about the issues with Congressmen and both U.S. Senators, as they conduct visits while in the state. They need to know that Farm Bureau is watching and appreciative on their support of our issues. Here are several important things to remember.

The Senate has not addressed the Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China issue.While the House has passed the bill by a significant margin, the Senate needs to act promptly. Please encourage both senators to do so. This is one of the most important agricultural issues of recent years, and the opportunity to move significant amounts of agricultural products to China is unprecedented. This opportunity must not be lost.

Congress has not completed work on the sanctions issue. The House last week voted by a three to one margin to not spend money enforcing the ban on shipments of food and medicine to Cuba.

However, this issue of exempting food and medicine sales from the embargo still should be addressed in meeting with both Congressmen and Senators.

The Farm Bureau has advocated for years that the use of food as a diplomatic weapon is not only a bad idea, but woefully ineffective. Important people are finally starting to listen. We need to finish the job and let our officials know that the issue is very important to farmers and ranchers.

Legislation to end estate taxes, or “The Death Tax” has passed the House and Senate. Unfortunately, a veto by President Clinton is expected. Under the legislation, death taxes would be phased out over 10 years. Farm Bureau policy favors the elimination of the Death Tax. Encourage your members of Congress to vote for overriding the veto.

Other important bills still on the table include HR 1592, legislation to improve the Food Quality Protection Act. This is important because FQPA, as the Environmental Protection Agency plans to implement it, would create an unworkable situation for agriculture. EPA’s activity far exceeds the intent of Congress and the promises made to agriculture. This is bad policy and stopping it is a Farm Bureau priority.

We owe our Congressmen and Senators a few “thank yous,” too. It would be a good idea to thank your representatives for passing the bill to provide additional market loss payments which will be delivered this fall. Also, Congress passed the crop insurance legislation, which should increase the government portion of crop insurance premiums. Crop insurance has not worked very well in the past, and this legislation, supported by Farm Bureau, should be an improvement. That legislation also reauthorized a wool and mohair assistance program.

Most members of Congress will be holding meetings with their constituents during the recess. This would be a very good time to visit with them about these important issues. Farm Bureau’s effectiveness in the legislative process is due to member activity and contact with elected officials. With members of Congress in the state all during August, that personal contact could make a big difference.