ASA TOP LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY PRIORITIES July 2011

1. FY-2012 Budget & Appropriations

1. Budget - ASA supports a comprehensive approach to reducing federal deficits and the growth of the national debt that includes all entitlement/mandatory as well as all discretionary spending, and that does not make disproportionate reductions in agriculture programs.

2. Appropriations - ASA is concerned about large and disproportionate cuts in the House agricultural appropriations bill to key programs, including agricultural research, conservation programs, and international food assistance programs. ASA supports maintaining existing funding ($265 million) for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), and protecting funding for conservation on working lands, including EQIP, CSP and NRCS technical assistance to farmers. ASA appreciates and strongly supports the continued full funding of the Foreign Market Development program ($34.5 million) and the Market Access Program ($200 million).

2. Trade Expansion 

1. ASA supports enactment of the pending FTAs with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama during the current session of Congress including, if necessary, appropriate Trade Adjustment Assistance for displaced workers.

2. ASA opposes legislation to take unilateral action on China’s currency that would invite retaliatory actions by China.

3. Biodiesel

1. ASA supports enactment of a multi-year extension of the biodiesel tax incentive beyond 2011. ASA requests House members to co-sponsor H.R. 2238, introduced by Representatives Schock and Peterson, and S. 1277, introduced by Senators Cantwell and Grassley. 

2. ASA opposes efforts to reduce Farm Bill Bioenergy Program mandatory funding ($105 million) in the FY-2012 appropriations bill. 

4. Transportation 

1. ASA requests that Congress provide adequate funding to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and specify that it be spent to dredge and repair inland waterways damaged by historic flooding.

2. ASA urges Congress to enact the Capital Development Plan to fund and streamline modernization of waterways infrastructure, including locks and dams.

5. Ag-Related Regulatory Actions

1. ASA urges Senate passage of H.R. 872, which will remove duplicative and onerous new permitting requirements for pesticide applications already approved for use.

2. ASA urges Congress to express concern to the FCC about interference with GPS signals used by agricultural producers that would result from LightSquared’s proposed broadband network, and to ensure that these issues are resolved before giving final authorization to LightSquared.

3. ASA supports continued use of science-based Environmental Assessments by USDA in deregulating new biotech traits and improved procedures to speed deregulation decisions.