AGRICULTURAL RETAILERS ASSOCIATION for AGRICULTURAL RETAILERS ASSOCIATION

Trade (domestic/foreign) TRD

Support efforts to eliminate anti-dumping duty orders and other trade restrictions on solid urea and ammonium nitrate fertilizers from Russia and Ukraine. Oppose EPA own-use pilot program related to pesticide harmonization with Canada. Support fair WTO agreement for agriculture.

Contacted: Interior, Dept of (DOI); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); SENATE; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Agriculture AGR

Support reforms of the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program & Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - direct contracting between USDA-NRCS and third-party TSPs; prevailing local market rates to ensure fair and reasonable payment for third-party TSPs. Also, support cost-share payment for Ag retailers that purchase precision ag equipment. Oppose EQIP funding to build end user bulk chemical storage and load pads. Participate in coalition to reform Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Support funding for USDA anti-meth grant program to help Ag retailers partially cover costs of tank locks and additives for anhydrous ammonia to prevent use by drug dealers in the production of meth. Working to ensure funding through the appropriations process. Support sustaining the Hours of Service Agricultural Exemption at 100 air miles. Support the USDA NASS reporting of data for agricultural chemical use.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Small Business Administration (SBA); SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Transportation, Dept of (DOT)

Transportation TRA

Work with PHMSA on transportation safety, driver documentation and security issues. Coalition member of the Ag Transportation Working Group - supports reform of railroad practices related to rates, competition, new rail tank car design and deliveries of shipments. Support sustaining the Hours of Service Agricultural Exemption air mile radius of 100. Support maintaining railroads common carrier obligation and liability for TIH materials. Work with House Small Business Committee and Surface Transportation Board (STB) on reforming the STB and providing more oversight of the railroads. Oppose efforts to remove railroads common carrier obligation. Provided information to USDA on the rural transportation study mandated by the 2008 Farm bill. Worked with DOT's PHMSA to support mandatory anhydrous ammonia nurse tank testing. Oppose the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) tax as a way to fund the federal highway system

Contacted: Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Small Business Administration (SBA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE; Interior, Dept of (DOI); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); White House Office

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Support implementation of Agricultural Chemical Security Tax Credit. Support effort to repeal federal estate tax or reduce rate to 35% from 45% and increase the exemption cap to $5 million from $3.5 million. Support additional tax reform such as accelerating depreciation for agricultural equipment used by agricultural operations. Support extension of 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.

Contacted: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); White House Office; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Small Business Administration (SBA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB)

Environment/Superfund ENV

Support EPA's revisions to the SPCC rules, support EPA's mandate to have federal recycling rules for recycling empty one-way plastic containers; assisting EPA with the new proposal on a web based labeling system for section 3 pesticide registered products. Support modifications to EPA's Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) rules. Working with Oceans 21 Coalition to promote a rewriting of HR 21 and oppose the bill as currently written. Working with climate change coalition. The coalition worked to educate members of Congress and their staff on the effects climate change legislation will have on farm inputs and rise in natural gas prices due to climate change proposals. Oppose green house gas (GHG) emission regulation under the Clean Air Act. Oppose efforts to expand the definition of "navigable" water. Support efforts to reform the Endangered Species Act. Member of the EPA's Pesticide Policy Dialogue Committee, the committee reviews a wide range of EPA programs including pesticide registrations, registration procedures, spray drift mitigation, water pollution, labeling concepts, and other areas. The PPDC and its mission and its members are reported in the fed reg. Working with EPA to define the definition of oil under the SPCC. Working for a rehearing of Cotton Council vs. EPA * amicus brief. Requesting help from EPA's OPP and Office of Water Programs Support EPA's reregistration of 2,4D.

Contacted: Small Business Administration (SBA); SENATE; Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Surface Transportation Board (STB); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Commerce, Dept of (DOC)

Bills named: H.R. 21 (111th)

Chemicals/Chemical Industry CHM

Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 - draft bill: Oppose Inherently Safer Technology (IST) mandate; Support federal preemption and stronger information protection. Oppose ability for citizen suits / third party lawsuits. Support Alternative SVAs. Serve on DHS Chemical Sector Coordinating Council providing input on Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) rules. Support permanent authorization of CFATS rules. No bill has been introduced yet in House or Senate.

Contacted: Small Business Administration (SBA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); White House Office; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); SENATE; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); Interior, Dept of (DOI)

Government Issues GOV

Support OMB regulatory review process - 74 Federal Register 88t9 (February 26,2009)

Contacted: White House Office; Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Small Business Administration (SBA); SENATE; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Support legislation for more transparency of over-the-counter (OTC) trades and additional oversight given to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) - HR 977. Coalition members of Ag Energy Alliance, which supports increased domestic exploration and production of natural gas and oil and oppose efforts to limit production as it hurts domestic manufacture of fertilizer and ag chemicals. Support efforts to encourage the U.S. Department of Interior to expand access to offshore domestic energy resources as well as on federal lands. And support permanently removing the moratorium on drilling for oil and gas in the outer continental shelf. Coalition member of the Commodity Markets Oversight Coalition. Coalition member of Stop Oil Speculation Now. Support exploration of oil and natural gas in ANWR as well as increased production of oil shale. Supports efforts in Congress for increased investigation and oversight of excessive energy speculation in the futures markets. Supports 25 x 25 Ag Energy Coalition efforts to promote use of renewable fuels.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Small Business Administration (SBA); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Interior, Dept of (DOI); White House Office; Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Surface Transportation Board (STB)

Bills named: H.R. 977 (111th)

Homeland Security HOM

Serve on DHS Chemical Sector Coordinating Council providing input on implementation of Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). Participated in Food & Ag Coordinating Council. Assist DHS with the Farm Operations security rule. Oppose Inherently Safer Technology (IST) mandate - legislation; support federal preemption of DHS CFATS rules & stronger information protection; oppose citizen suits; support Alternative SVA; support CFATS permanent rule. No bill introduced yet.

Contacted: Surface Transportation Board (STB); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); SENATE; Small Business Administration (SBA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace LBR

Oppose the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) or so-called card check bill (S. 560, H.R. 1409). Oppose denying workers their right to a secret ballot when deciding whether to be represented by a union.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; Small Business Administration (SBA); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); Surface Transportation Board (STB); U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Commerce, Dept of (DOC); Intl Trade Administration (ITA); White House Office; Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

Bills named: H.R. 1409 (111th), S. 560 (111th)