Bill Huffman
Director - Government Relations

The Friday Report

June 4, 2010

Congress was out of session this week due to the Memorial Holiday. They will return Monday with a big agenda to complete including final consideration of the financial reform legislation, legislation to hopefully extend tax credits, supplemental appropriations and possibly a budget resolution for the 2011 fiscal year.

Agriculture News

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Blanche Lincoln announced this week that her committee will begin a series of Farm Bill hearings beginning June 30th. In announcing the Senate schedule, Senator Lincoln said “Maintaining our domestic food supply through a strong U.S. farm policy” will be our goal.

Senator Lincoln initially planned to defer work on the 2012 Farm Bill until next year; however, with the House Agriculture Committee’s rapid start on writing a bill in early 2011, she decided to proceed with Senate hearings this summer.

The first hearing will be in Washington on June 30th. The hearing will focus on maintaining a sound U.S. farm policy to protect the food supply. Dates and locations for three additional hearings will be announced later. Those hearings will concentrate on rural development, land and wildlife stewardship, and renewable fuels.

California Water Legislation

The California rice industry is closely watching state legislation, Senate Bill 565 by Senator Pavely that would lay the groundwork for revision of state water rights by requiring water users to perform expensive and technical monitoring studies at their own expense. The California Rice Industry Association reports that these studies could result in a reduction of water use and jeopardize water rights.

CRIA is joining a broad coalition of agricultural interests in opposition to this bill. This is the second year this bill has been introduced. The industry was successful last year in stopping the legislation. Every effort will be made this year to do likewise.