WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2014 – With time running out,
Congress will attempt this week to pass a continuing resolution (CR) that would
keep the government, including the Department of Agriculture, running beyond
the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
But just what will be included in the CR remains up
in the air.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman
Hal Rogers last week introduced what he called a
“clean” short-term CR (H.J. 124) that continues funding government programs and
services at the current annual cap of $1.012 trillion until Dec. 11.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy delayed a vote
on the measure to give members time to consider whether the CR should include a
provision requested by the Obama administration to aide Syrian rebels fighting
the radical Islamic group ISIS. McCarthy has said a vote on a CR could be held
as early as Tuesday.
The measure may also include a short-term extension
of the Export-Import Bank, which some Tea Party-backed lawmakers have tried to
eliminate, charging that the bank is an example of “crony capitalism.” The
bank’s charter is also set to expire with the end of the fiscal year.
(For
more on the CR, listen to the Agri-Pulse Open Mic interview with Rep. Robert Aderholt, who
chairs the Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee.)
The House and Senate will be in recess for most of
October and the first week in November to campaign for the mid-term elections.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has a
busy week scheduled. Today he’s visiting a farm in Illinois where he’ll detail
conservation projects in 31 states and the District of Columbia. On Tuesday,
he’ll be addressing Growth Energy, an ethanol producers group, and on Wednesday
he’ll be testifying before the House Agriculture Committee on implementation of
pilot programs from the 2014 Farm Bill aimed at reducing dependency on
government nutrition programs.
Here’s a list of agriculture-related events in
Washington and elsewhere in the coming week:
Monday, Sept. 15
U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st
Century Energy kicks off its five-day “Keystone XL Pipeline Lost Opportunity
Tour” of the communities along the pipeline’s proposed route, from Montana’s
northern border, to the Nebraska-Kansas border. Tour concludes on Sept. 19, the
sixth anniversary of TransCanada’s first application to build the pipeline.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman meets with Vietnamese Deputy Prime
Minister Vu Van Ninh in Washington to discuss Trans-Pacific Partnership issues.
Closed to the press.
12 p.m. The House returns at noon for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for
legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
1 p.m. National Research Council opens two-day public meeting to consider “Genetically
Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects.” Speakers include New
York Times reporter Amy Harmon, winner of the 2014 Science in Society
Journalism Award for her article, “A Race to Save the Orange by Altering Its
DNA.” National Academy of Sciences Building, Washington.
2 p.m. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack visits Erickson
Farm in Milan, Illinois, where he’ll make an announcement that will “help
develop cutting edge ideas to accelerate innovation in conservation of natural
resources.” USDA said Vilsack will detail projects in 31 states and the
District of Columbia.
2 p.m. Republican state Secretaries and
Commissioners of Agriculture will host a conference call for reporters to
discuss the impact of “federal overreach on agriculture.”
2:00 p.m. The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00 p.m. and Senators will be
giving 10 minute speeches until 5:30, when there will be a roll call vote to
invoke cloture on S.2199, the
Paycheck Fairness Act.
4 p.m.
USDA releases weekly Crop Progress report.
Tuesday,
Sept. 16
8:30 a.m. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack will address
Growth Energy’s 2014 Advocacy Conference in Washington.
10:00 a.m. The House meets for morning hour and at noon for
legislative business. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the House may
act on a continuing resolution as early as today.
10:30 a.m. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory
Committee holds its fifth meeting, through tomorrow, in Rockville, Maryland.
Click here to see the
agenda.
3
p.m. USDA releases reports on Hop Stocks and Turkey Hatchery.
Wednesday,
Sept. 17
Acting Deputy USTR Wendy Cutler will visit India for meetings with her
counterparts from a number of government ministries to advance a range of trade
issues, including agricultural trade. In Delhi. Closed Press.
10 a.m. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack will testify
at House Agriculture
Committee hearing called to review the implementation of
Section 4022 of the 2014 Farm Bill: Pilot projects to reduce dependency and
increase work requirements and work effort under the Supplemental Nutrition and
Assistance Program. 1301 Longworth.
10:15 a.m. The Senate Committee on Finance holds a
hearing on “Reforming America’s Outdated Energy Tax Code” in 215 Dirksen Senate
Office Building.
10:30 a.m. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary
holds a hearing on “Why Net Neutrality Matters: Protecting Consumers and
Competition through Meaningful Open Internet Rules” in 216 Hart Senate Office
Building.
1 p.m. House Small Business Committee holds a
hearing entitled, “Is the FCC Responding to the needs of Small Business and
Rural America?” FCC Chairman Thomas Wheeler is scheduled to testify. 2360
Rayburn.
2:30 p.m. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation meets in executive session to consider a number of bills
including: S. 2777, Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act of 2014,
and S. 2581, the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2014. 253 Russell.
3 p.m. USDA releases report on Broiler Hatchery.
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack will deliver remarks
at Heroes of Conservation Gala in Washington.
President Barack Obama will host a picnic for Members of Congress at the
White House.
Thursday,
Sept. 18
USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator Darci Vetter travels to China with USDA
Under Secretary Michael Scuse to co-chair the Joint Commission on Commerce and
Trade Phytosanitary Working Group, meet with Agriculture Vice Minister Niu Dun,
and participate in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, in Beijing.
Closed Press.
The Organic Trade Association opens a two-day
conference on “All Things Organic” at the Baltimore Convention Center. The
conference is part of the four-day National Products Expo East Show which opens
Sept. 17.
8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosts
discussion on stakes involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
Chamber headquarters in Washington.
9:00
a.m. The House will convene and will welcome the President of Ukraine for a
joint meeting at 10:00 a.m. The House comes back at noon for legislative
business.
3:00 p.m. House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee hearing: Unaccompanied Alien Children, pressing the Administration for a
strategy.
3
p.m. USDA releases reports on Citrus Fruits, Livestock Historical Track Records
and Potatoes.
Friday,
Sept. 19
9:00
a.m. The House will meet for legislative business. Last votes of the week are
expected no later than 3:00 p.m. House will then adjourn for a one-week recess,
reconvening on Sept. 29.
3
p.m. USDA releases reports on Cattle on Feed, Milk Production and Peanut
Prices.
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