AGRICULTURAL RETAILERS ASSOCIATION for AGRICULTURAL RETAILERS ASSOCIATION

Transportation TRA

Supports reform to federal CDL hazmat endorsement background check rules. Supports H.R. 1079, the Professional Drivers Background Efficiency Act of 2007. Coalition member to reform railroad practices related to rates, competition, new tank car design and deliveries. Support increasing Hours of Service Agricultural Exemption air mile radius from 100 to 150. Coalition member supporting passage of Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). Coalition member to reform HAZMAT laws.

Contacted: Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; Interior, Dept of (DOI); White House Office; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Bills named: H.R. 1079 (110th)

Environment/Superfund ENV

Supports revisions to EPA's Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) rules; Member of EPA's Spray Drift Work Group that issued final report to the PPDC. Supports federal mandate for registrants regarding ag pesticide container recycling, oppose any direct fees charged against agricultural retailers. Supports strengthening of pesticide applicator standards - more uniformity and increased standards for private applicators, more flexibility on spray drift for commercial applicators.

Contacted: SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Interior, Dept of (DOI); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Surface Transportation Board (STB)

Chemicals/Chemical Industry CHM

Opposed efforts in Congress to mandate use of inherently safer technologies (IST), allow states to implement rules that conflict with federal chemical security regulations, allow for third party lawsuits against chemical facilities. Supported DHS effort for stronger protection of confidential information submitted to the agency - CVI. Serve on DHS Chemical Security Coordinating Council providing input on implementation of new Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) interim final rules. Obtained DHS approval of Asmark Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) program. Provided comment letters to DHS on CFATS proposal including proposed Appendix A: Chemicals of Interest.

Contacted: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); SENATE; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Energy/Nuclear ENG

Coalition member of Ag Energy Alliance that supports increased domestic exploration and production of natural gas and oil and opposed efforts to limit said production as it hurts the domestic manufacture of fertilizers and ag chemicals. Supports legislation for more oversight of the natural gas and energy markets by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) - S. 577, H.R. 594, H.R. 3009. Supports U.S. Minerals Management Service proposal to expand access to offshore domestic energy resources.

Contacted: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); SENATE; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 594 (110th), H.R. 3009 (110th), S. 577 (110th)

Homeland Security HOM

Opposed efforts in Congress to mandate use of inherently safer technologies (IST), allow states to implement rules that conflict with federal chemical security regulations, allow for third party lawsuits against chemical facilities. Supported DHS effort for stronger protection of confidential information submitted to the agency - CVI. Participated in DHS Food & Ag Coordinating Council Serve on DHS Chemical Security Coordinating Council providing input on implementation of new Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) interim final rules. Obtained DHS approval of Asmark Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) program. Provided comment letters to DHS on CFATS proposal including proposed Appendix A: Chemicals of Interest.

Contacted: Interior, Dept of (DOI); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; White House Office; SENATE; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Trade (domestic/foreign) TRD

Supports efforts to eliminate anti-dumping duty orders and other trade restrictions on solid urea and ammonium nitrate fertilizers from Russian and Ukraine. Supports H.R. 443 and H.R. 445. Opposes EPA own-use pilot program related to pesticide harmonization with Canada; Supports fair WTO agreement for agriculture.

Contacted: SENATE; Interior, Dept of (DOI); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); White House Office; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA)

Bills named: H.R. 443 (110th), H.R. 445 (110th)

Agriculture AGR

Supports inclusion of grant program in House version of 2007 farm bill to help Ag retailers partially cover costs of additives for anhydrous ammonia to prevent use by drug dealers in the production of meth. Supports 25 x 25 Ag Energy coalition efforts to promote production and use of renewable fuels. Supports creation of USDA Ag Transportation Task Force to address transportation challenges facing the nation's agricultural industry. Supports increasing the Hours of Service Agricultural Exemption from 100 to 150 air miles. Coalition member that supported emergency ag disaster assistance payments to farmers and ranchers experiencing a crop or livestock loss in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Participated in coalition to reform the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and other farm conservation programs. Opposed EQIP funding to build end user bulk chemical storage. Support reform to Technical Service Provider (TSP) program in 2007 farm bill, including cost-share payments for precision ag equipment.

Contacted: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Transportation, Dept of (DOT); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Surface Transportation Board (STB); Interior, Dept of (DOI); White House Office; SENATE; Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS)

Taxation/Internal Revenue Code TAX

Supports passage of the Agricultural Business Security Tax Credit Act of 2007 (S. 551 / H.R. 1814). Support efforts to repeal and / or the federal estate tax. Support additional tax reform such as accelerating the depreciation for agricultural equipment used by agricultural businesses.

Contacted: Transportation, Dept of (DOT); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); SENATE; Interior, Dept of (DOI); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Surface Transportation Board (STB); Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Homeland Security, Dept of (DHS); White House Office

Bills named: H.R. 1814 (110th), S. 551 (110th)