This week in our TSCRA Government and Public Affairs Update we would like to introduce you to Kaycee Anderson. Kaycee is interning in our Austin office this summer and helping our staff on a wide variety of policy issues and priorities.
Kaycee was raised on a ranch in Olney Springs, Colorado. She recently graduated from West Texas A&M with a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness and Economics, where she also enjoyed being the recruitment chairman of her school’s agribusiness club, as well as a transfer ambassador for advising services. She hopes to pursue a career in agriculture after concluding her internship. Welcome Kaycee!
Also this week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed their version of the 2018 Farm Bill. It was their second vote on the legislation after an attempt in May fell short. On passage, TSCRA released a statement saying in part, “the House version of the 2018 Farm Bill contains a number of specific provisions to safeguard cattle raisers. These include funding for a vaccine bank in the event of a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak, research, foreign market development and conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) that are utilized by cattle producers.”
To read the full statement click here. Floor debate on the Senate version may occur as early as next week. Congress will then have to reconcile the differences between the two bills in a conference committee.
Last week TSCRA Government and Public Affairs staff were in Marfa for the 2018 TSCRA Summer Meeting. The slate of guest speakers included Congressman Will Hurd and State Representative Mary Gonzalez. Both provided insight to the current Federal and State issues facing cattle raisers. We appreciate their continued support of cattle raisers!
Also last week TSCRA submitted comments on several different issues. In the first, TSCRA provided comments to USDA-APHIS in support of simplifying the branding requirements on Mexican cattle entering the United States. Full text of the comments can be viewed here. TSCRA also submitted comments to the Texas Animal Health Commission in support a rule change regarding entry requirements for cattle related to trichomoniasis, also known as trich. You can view the full text here.