CALIFORNIAns MAKE LOBBy visit to waSHINGTON In Washington, D.C., in early April, one will likely see two things, cherry blossoms in bloom and ranchers in cowboy hats walking the halls of the U.S. Capitol building. This tradition held true in 2014 as ranchers from across the country descended on our nation’s capital for the annual National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) Legislative Conference. This year on April 7 through April 11, CCA sent a contingent from California to the event including CCA officers, staff and members. CCA young producer member Kendra Brennan from Tuolumne County was one of two individuals honored with a scholarship from PLC to attend the event at no cost. The busy week included two full days of active lobbying on Capitol Hill and various federal regulatory agencies in Washington, D.C. Participants had the opportunity to hear from Gina McCarthy, the newly-appointed administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency., who spoke about the release of the administration’s proposed rule to define which waters are subject to federal regulation. This controversial proposal that is a clear overreach by the federal government to not just regulate true navigable waterways but also ditches, pot holes, disconnected wetlands and other non-navigable waterways is being met with strong opposition by CCA, NCBA and other agricultural stakeholders. These concerns were made clear to McCarthy and she committed to continue to work ranchers to address concerns and opposition as a formal review of the proposed rule will soon begin. Other issues that CCA members shared with members of Congress and their staff included the strong opposition to a recent proposal by the USDA to allow the importation of chilled or frozen beef from Brazil without regard to the risk posed for the introduction of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). California members also specifically lobbied on the need for serious reform of the Endangered Species Act, the timely and effective implementation of federal disaster assistance to help producers struggling with the ongoing drought and address challenges on
The CCA delegation in Washington consisted of Sherri and Kendra Brennan, Sonora; NCBA Policy Division Vice Chair, Kevin Kester, Parkfield; CCA President Tim Koopmann, Sunol; CCA Federal Lands Committee Chair Mike Byrne, Tulelake; CCA’s Justin Oldfield, Elk Grove; and CCA First Vice President Billy Flournoy, Likely.
federal lands that restrict permittees from fully utilizing their grazing permits. CCA encourages all members to
attend the annual NCBA and PLC Legislative Conference. For more information, contact the CCA office.
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May 2014 California Cattleman 37