Category: Lobbying

Big Week Ahead for Biotech

On By Kyle ClineIn Ag Policy, LobbyingLeave a comment

After months of negotiations, Senate leaders finally reached a historic deal in late June to set national labeling standards for foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients.

The agreement between Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts and ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow caps off a long and winding path of negotiations that included a series of starts and stops.  Farm Bureau is supporting the Roberts-Stabenow GMO food labeling compromise and is currently asking members to contact Congress to urge for the bill’s passage.

Below is a rundown of what the legislation would actually do:

  • The legislation would block Vermont’s GMO labeling law that took effect July 1, protecting interstate commerce. States would not be allowed to have labeling laws that differ from the federal standard.
  • It would require food companies to disclose biotech ingredients but provides one of three options for doing so: 1) a scannable code, such as the QR codes on labels that can be read by smartphones, 2) on-package symbol or 3) text on the package indicating the presence of biotechnology.
  • Small companies would be exempt from the labeling requirements.
  • Meat and dairy products also would be exempt from the disclosure standards. Eating biotech feed wouldn’t be enough to qualify as a biotech product.
  • Provides USDA the authority to determine what on-package disclosure will look like.
  • Includes a narrow and strong definition of biotechnology that protects future breeding technologies from being stigmatized as being GMO.
  • Establishes that a manufacturer cannot label a product as non-GMO simply because it is not subject to the bill’s labeling requirements.
  • Also establishes that products already qualified as certified organic will be able to market as non-GMO.
  • Saves the average consumer hundreds of dollars each year.

Time is limited for Congress to take action on the legislation prior to July 15, when both chambers are scheduled for an extended break due to party conventions and August Recess. However, the process for approval is already underway.  Last week, the Senate voted 68-29 on a procedural motion that initiates the process for floor action.  There will be one more procedural vote to “invoke cloture”  followed by final consideration and a vote on the bill, which may take place next Friday, July 8 according to sources.  Assuming everything goes as anticipated, the House is expected to take action on the legislation during the week of July 11.

 

#WorldTradeMonth

On By Kyle ClineIn LobbyingLeave a comment

The month of May means different things to different people.  In Indiana, Hoosiers may consider the Indianapolis 500 and its many festivities, planting season being in full swing or the approaching end of the school year.  You may not be aware that May is also World Trade Month.  Indiana Farm Bureau is taking this opportunity to highlight the numerous benefits of trade to Indiana’s farmers, rural communities and the general economy.
tradepic3(Indiana and Michigan Farm Bureau leaders visiting the European Commission in September 2015 as part of the Agricultural Leadership Exchange)

So why highlight trade?  Given the dire tone and negative rhetoric that surrounds this issue and the fact that every presidential candidate seems vehemently opposed to trade while proposing a seemingly isolationist political stance, you’d think I might consider spending my time on something else.

Well, let us briefly consider a few facts about trade and its role in Indiana for perspective:

  • Indiana ranks 8th among the 50 U.S. states in the value of its agricultural exports
  • Indiana’s agricultural exports reached an estimated $4.8 billion in 2013, up from $3.8 billion in 2009
  • Indiana’s agriculture exports support roughly 36,200 jobs
  • Nearly 1 out of every 3 acres of soybeans planted in Indiana are destined for export markets
  • Indiana’s top five agricultural exports are: 1. Soybeans – $1.7 billion 2. Soybean meal – $442 million 3. Feeds and fodder – $429 million 4. Corn – $410 million 5. Pork – $307 million

tradepic4(Over 50 Indiana Farm Bureau members met with officials from the Embassy of Japan during the 2016 INFB Leader Trip to Washington, D.C. in March to discuss trade and TPP)

We frequently hear opponents to new trade agreements argue that trade benefits agriculture at the expense of other industries.  However, a closer look at the collective economic impacts in Indiana seem to show a different picture as noted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce:

  • More than 800,000 Indiana jobs depend on trade and the state’s exports have approached $50 billion annually in recent years.
  • Trade does not only benefit large multi-national corporations. Of the 8,258 Indiana companies that export, 85% were small or medium-sized firms.
  • Among those leading the charge is the auto sector. Exports of motor vehicles increased by an impressive 89% between 2009 and 2014, topping 2 million cars and trucks for the first time in 2014. U.S.-built cars shipped to China have risen sevenfold since 2009.

Given these realities, it is apparent that expanded international market and exporting opportunities for Indiana farms and businesses will result in added economic value and benefit.

Because of the important role trade plays to the success and viability of Hoosier farmers, Indiana Farm Bureau is encouraging its members to join in the efforts to promote trade opportunities for agriculture and emphasize the need for congress to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

There are many ways Farm Bureau members can participate in the World Trade Month campaign.  A list of resources and information (including most of the trade facts above) can be found at the Indiana Farm Bureau World Trade Month website, including a few suggestions for helping INFB with its trade advocacy efforts.  You can also find a social media script to help you get involved on Facebook and Twitter, following #WorldTradeMonth.

I hope that you will take a moment to join the conversation and inject some Hoosier common-sense into the ongoing trade debate.

A Day (or Three) in the Life of a Lobbyist

On By Kyle ClineIn LobbyingLeave a comment

Welcome back to Hoosier on the Hill!

In this post, I highlight my recent trip to Washington, D.C., which took place earlier this week.  While it is difficult to pinpoint a typical day as a lobbyist, this trip provides a pretty good flavor for some typical activities on the job.

Day 1
Tuesday was primarily focused on issue education, research and relationship building. After landing at the airport and taking the metro directly to the hotel, I checked in, dropped off my bag and headed off to my first meeting at the U.S. Grains Council (USGC).
A little bit of history for you, the USGC was founded in 1960 as a private, non-profit corporation with 10 international offices and programs in more than 50 countries. Its membership includes producer organizations and agribusinesses with a common interest in developing export markets primarily for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products, including ethanol and distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).  The mission of the USGC is to develop markets, enable trade and improve lives.
IMG_3986
The focus of my meeting at the USGC was on international trade, a high priority issue for Indiana Farm Bureau and our 72,000 farmer members. The USGC is a partner with Farm Bureau in the Trade Benefits America and U.S. Coalition for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a broad-based and cross-sectoral coalition of U.S. companies and organizations urging Congress to pass TPP.  I had the opportunity to meet with USGC’s Director of Trade Policy to discuss the latest trade-related updates and other upcoming activities of mutual interest. Trade will continue to be a priority issue over the course of the year for Farm Bureau.  In fact, May is World Trade Month, and my next blog post will cover some of the activities and resources available to INFB members to promote this important issue.

After the meeting at USGC, I headed outside to order an Uber and fought D.C. traffic to get to my next meeting in the Georgetown area.  I quickly shifted my attention from trade and TPP to livestock issues.  This meeting consisted of a discussion related to the latest major announcements by large food manufacturers and retail companies regarding animal welfare requirements, namely cage-free eggs. We also touched on the proposed rule from the USDA related to animal welfare requirements for organic livestock producers.  Farm Bureau continues to evaluate the proposed rule for impacts, but has already requested an extension to the comment period to ensure the USDA receives adequate feedback from the producers as well as the general public.

Day 2
Before my busy day of meetings on Capitol Hill, I had a chance to meet up with a friend and colleague from the Michigan Farm Bureau, John Kran, for breakfast at Pete’s Diner.  Pete’s is one of John Boehner’s favorite breakfast spots and word has it, a favorite of other members of congress.  So we thought we’d give it a try.  While very small and unassuming, Pete’s provides basic but tasty comfort food for a good price.  I recommend the omelets which come standard with a side of French fries.  It’s always great to get together with our friends from other state Farm Bureaus and hear the latest issues impacting their members.
IMG_4004
A day on Capitol Hill is always very fast-paced and requires close attention to the schedule, time and the issues that we want our members of congress to hear about.  I visited with each office in the Indiana congressional delegation on several issues including biotechnology labeling, trade, rail infrastructure and the Affordable Care Act.

After being on the job for nearly three years (boy does time fly!), I listened to my wife and slowed down between meetings to snap a few pictures of my surroundings, which I know I’m guilty of taking for granted from time to time.

Day 3
On Thursday, I attended a training session at AFBF on the topic of grassroots engagement.  The AFBF public policy staff probably described the primary job functions of a lobbyist best:

  • Education (of others as well as yourself)
  • Sales
  • Research
  • Public relations and communications
  • Networking and relationship building and management

As I reviewed the list, I realized that I touched on all five functions during the course of my trip.  The training also included best practices for member advocacy and engagement, the do’s and don’ts from the congressional staff perspective, Capitol Hill visits, a simulation of what it is like to be a member of Congress and how to tell effective stories (guidelines taken directly from the Disney model).

After a full day of training, I grabbed my suitcase and descended down the long escalator to the metro to go back to the airport.  Upon reaching my departure gate, I met up with Senator Joe Donnelly and had a chance to briefly catch up before boarding the plane.  After a smooth flight to Indy and another hour and 15 minute drive, I finally arrived home around 10:00 p.m. where I was met at the doorstep by my three favorite people, anxiously waiting to hear all about my trip and discover what goodies I brought home in my suitcase.  Just another day in my life as a lobbyist.