For Immediate Release: March 5, 2013
Contact: Carmen Fenton, 512-673-3906

Fort Worth, Texas – U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, Midland, and Texas Rep. Charlie Geren, Fort Worth, will discuss the latest on federal and state government actions at one of the many breakout sessions during the 136th annual Cattle Raisers Convention in Fort Worth, March 22-24.

“Texas is synonymous with cattle country, and the cattle industry provides an important way of life for many Texans. Our ranchers are impacted by many issues coming out of Washington, including immigration, the pending farm bill and the sequester,” Conaway said. “I look forward to speaking about these and other crucial issues at the Cattle Raisers Convention.”

Conaway is a member of the House Agriculture Committee where he chairs the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. He has continued to press USDA for answers on the recent threat of furloughing federal meat inspectors, a decision that would likely harm the cattle industry in Texas.

“Inspecting and ensuring the safety and availability of American meat products is not negotiable. If USDA’s leadership feels furloughs of meat inspectors are necessary to comply with the sequester, they need to provide justification and explain why no other cuts are possible,” Conaway said in a recent statement.

State Rep. Charlie Geren will discuss actions taken by the State Legislature during the 83^rd Legislative Session, and what affect they could have on landowners and ranchers.

“Two of the biggest issues facing ranchers and rural Texans right now are water and private property rights,” said Geren. “With the Legislature in session, it’s crucial that the cattle industry maintain their strong presence at the state capitol.”

Geren championed SB 18, largely known as the eminent domain bill that was signed into law in 2011, in the Texas House of Representatives. He was a critical component to the bill’s passage and has diligently worked to continue strengthening the private property rights of landowners during the eminent domain and condemnation process.

Conaway and Geren will speak at the breakout session hosted by the TSCRA Legislative and Tax and Labor Committees Saturday, March 23 at 2 p.m.  For a complete schedule of all breakout sessions and speakers, visit the convention website at www.tscra.org/convention.

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TSCRA is a 136 year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 16,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.