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Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

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Issues and Policy

  • ADVOCACY
  • POLICY DEVELOPMENT
  • TSCRA PAC
  • GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STAFF

ADVOCACY

The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) was founded in 1877 to combat cattle rustling. Today, the Association continues its mission of protecting the stewards of land and livestock in the Southwest, not only through law enforcement but also by advocating for sound public policy on issues that impact cattle producers and landowners.

TSCRA is an active participant in all three branches of government—legislative, executive and judicial—in both Texas and Washington D.C.

We advocate on a wide variety of issues directly and indirectly related to our members’ ability to raise cattle and own land. Taxes, land use, natural resources, cattle markets, trade, water, cattle diseases, infrastructure, wildlife, beef substitutes, law enforcement, labor and many more topics are regularly considered by policymakers, most of whom have little to no experience in raising cattle.

  • LEGISLATIVE
  • EXECUTIVE
  • JUDICIAL

In Congress and the Texas Legislature, TSCRA’s government relations staff serves as a liaison between the cattle industry and lawmakers so they understand how laws and regulations impact cattle producers and can make informed decisions.

The Texas Legislature meets every other year from January to May. During the latest legislative session, the TSCRA government relations team read 7,385 pieces of legislation and worked on 798 bills that impacted our members. Thousands of hours were spent in more than 1,000 meetings and conference calls during those six months, not including legislative committee meetings and countless time spent preparing, strategizing, researching and compiling material together for legislative offices.

2021 Texas Legislative Session Recap
2019 Texas Legislative Session Recap
2017 Texas Legislative Session Recap

Like our work at the Texas Legislature, TSCRA is actively engaged with the United States Congress as they craft federal statutes on every issue imaginable. TSCRA leaders and staff regularly travel to Washington for these purposes and are in constant communication with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for and against legislation as necessary.

TSCRA also monitors and works with 33 executive branch regulatory agencies at the state and federal levels. These agencies propose countless regulations every year that can impact your operation and property. We frequently provide written comments and oral testimony to these agencies and continually work with their leaders and staff to ensure the needs and concerns of ranchers and landowners are addressed.

Each year, federal and state courts hear thousands of cases, many of which have implications for cattle raisers. Every time a court issues a ruling, it creates a type of de facto law called judicial precedent. That means each decision will impact much more than the parties in the case—it affects everyone with a stake in the issue. The Association actively participates in the judicial process when cases reach appeal and have consequences beyond the parties involved. This often means filing an amicus curiae brief, or “friend of the court” brief in specific unique and precedent-setting cases. This tool allows organizations like TSCRA to provide the court with additional expertise and insight into the matter, hopefully swaying their opinion.


POLICY DEVELOPMENT

TSCRA has four policy committees responsible for identifying, studying and prioritizing issues and opportunities that affect members and the cattle industry. This includes the development of policy positions that guide the Association’s actions on legislation, regulation, research, education and other activities. TSCRA’s government relations staff serve as liaisons to the committees and assist committee leaders and members with all duties and responsibilities.

TSCRA policy committees meet at least twice a year in conjunction with the TSCRA Summer Meeting and the TSCRA Policy Conference. TSCRA’s president appoints the chair, vice chair and committee members. Any member of the association may serve on one policy committee of their choosing subject to appointment by the president.

If ratified by the Resolutions Committee and full TSCRA Board of Directors, the policies developed by each committee are included in the TSCRA Master Policy List.

TSCRA Master Policy list

Policy Committee Issues

  • Diseases and conditions affecting cattle health
  • Practical methods to prevent and control the spread and effects of such diseases and conditions
  • Emerging diseases and disease vectors
  • Animal welfare laws, regulations and other activities
  • Structure, fees and funding of federal and state animal health regulatory and laboratory testing agencies
  • Laws and regulations relating to animal health pharmaceutical products and accepted livestock management practices
  • Availability of large animal veterinarians
  • Federal and state animal disease traceability efforts
  • Federal and state animal health border inspection activities
  • New technologies and research related to cattle care and handling
  • Evolving technologies and equipment that aid in the identification of cattle and their ownership
  • Useful technologies, techniques and scientific findings related to animal health
Wayne Cockrell, Chair
Travis Kenley, Vice Chair
Peyton Schumann, Staff Liaison
  • Evolving, and innovative methods of marketing live cattle
  • Marketing practices and methods that will be in the long-term best interest of members and the cattle industry
  • Best marketing practices and marketing alternatives
  • Price reporting and inventory reporting services and methods of improvement in gathering and disseminating marketing information
  • Federal and state transportation laws and regulations that impact the cattle industry, such as permits, fees, truck weights, commercial driver’s licenses, road access and maintenance issues
  • International trade agreements and negotiations and their impact on the cattle industry
  • Price risk management options provided by commodity futures exchanges
  • Texas Beef Quality Producer (TBQP) and National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) programs
  • Banking and farm credit system
  • Support the work of the TSCRA special rangers and the market inspectors in accomplishing their responsibilities in serving the cattle industry
  • Useful technologies, techniques and scientific findings related to marketing and transportation
Missy Bonds, Chair
Donnell Brown, Vice Chair
Melissa Hamilton, Staff Liaison
  • Federal and state water laws, regulations and programs
  • Practices for conserving and improving natural resources
  • Scientific advancements in controlling brush and other invasive vegetation and propagate new techniques and practices
  • Texas Grazing Land Coalition and Texas Section of the Society of Range Management selection of the Outstanding Rangeland Stewardship Award
  • Prescribed burn programs and procedures and federal and state wildfire response and preparation activities
  • Federal and state water quality programs, laws and regulations
  • Surface damage issues relating to non-agricultural surface use activities such as mineral exploration, including inactive oil and gas wells
  • Renewable fuel laws and regulations
  • Proper wildlife management and best management practices that will promote optimum utilization and returns from both livestock and wildlife
  • Opportunities for other non-livestock ranch-related revenue sources to include agritourism and recreation
  • Wildlife diseases and federal and state agencies’ response to the control of any such wildlife disease outbreak
  • Federal and state predator control efforts and funding for related programs
  • Federal endangered species listings, laws and regulations
  • Funding and support for state wildlife programs
  • State laws and regulations regarding hunting and recreational use on private land
  • Beef production sustainability measures and promotion of sustainability best practices
  • Universities and research institution research to aid in the efficient and sustainable production of cattle and beef
  • Useful technologies, techniques and scientific findings related to natural resources and wildlife
James Clement III, Chair
Andrew Polk, Vice Chair
Peyton Schumann, Staff Liaison
  • Eminent domain and other property right issues
  • Surface and groundwater property right laws, regulations and issues
  • Federal and state tax codes
  • State surface right laws and regulations relating to mineral exploration activities
  • Federal and state labor laws and regulations such as workers compensation, insurance requirements, youth labor and hiring or terminating employees
  • State laws regarding county and municipal annexation and zoning regulations
  • Federal and state fiscal laws and regulations
  • Areas of concern and reform with the federal legal immigration system
  • State theft and trespass laws
  • Federal and state border security and illegal immigration efforts
  • Useful technologies, techniques and scientific findings related to property rights and taxes
James Dudley IV, Chair
Anson Howard, Vice Chair
Melissa Hamilton, Staff Liaison

TSCRA PAC

Political Action Committees allow like-minded individuals to pool their resources and direct assistance where it’s needed most. The TSCRA PAC raises funds from TSCRA members and uses them to support candidates who support cattle producers. Sometimes the biggest legislative advocate on an issue important to our members may be a lawmaker from the other end of the state or country. Donating to the PAC allows members an opportunity to support their candidacy even if they cannot vote for them directly.

The TSCRA PAC also provides voting recommendations for state and federal candidates in advance of elections. TSCRA’s government relations staff conducts countless meetings with candidates seeking office and compiles information from each of their campaigns for the TSCRA PAC Board of Trustees to consider. These activities provide an amazing opportunity to establish strong working relationships early in a candidate’s legislative career.

Learn more about TSCRA PAC

Click below to visit the TSCRA PAC homepage, donate, view voting recommendations and more.

TSCRA PAC Homepage

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS STAFF

Melissa Hamilton
Executive Director of Government Relations

Melissa Hamilton

Executive Director of Government Relations

TSCRA COMMITTEES
Property Rights and Tax Committee Marketing and Transportation Committee


TSCRA PAC
Board of Trustees
Contributions Subcommittee


ISSUES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Management of Government Relations Team •

Property Rights • Transportation • Truck Weights • Hours of Service • International Trade • Country of Origin Labeling • Cattle Futures and Trading • Livestock Markets • Price Discovery • Packer Issues • Ag Finance and Banking • Fake Meat • Beef Checkoff • Candidate Engagement Activities • Candidate Endorsements and Contributions


AGENCIES
Texas Animal Health Commission • Texas Department of Agriculture • Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory • USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service • U.S. Food and Drug Administration

  • Email
Peyton Schumann
Senior Director Government Relations

Peyton Schumann

Senior Director of Government Relations

TSCRA COMMITTEES
Cattle Health and Wellbeing
Natural Resources and Wildlife

TSCRA PAC
Outreach Subcommittee

ISSUES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Cattle Health • Animal Welfare • Cattle Pests and Diseases • Fever Ticks • Disease Traceability • Import and Export Inspections • Import and Export Facilities • Antibiotic Use • Veterinary Issues •Ground and Surface Water • WOTUS • Wildlife • Chronic Wasting Disease • Endangered Species • Predation • Invasive Species • Sustainability • Climate and Conservation • Oil Well Plugging • Prescribed Burning

AGENCIES
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality • Texas Parks and Wildlife • Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board • Texas Water Development Board • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • EPA • USDA-Farm Service Agency • USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service • USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service • USDA-Food Safety and Inspection Service • TxDOT • Commodity Futures Trading Commission • U.S. Department of Transportation • Federal Highway Administration • Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  • Email
Paige Holbrooks
Director of Policy & Political Communications

Paige Holbrooks

Director of Policy & Political Communications

TSCRA COMMITTEES
Fever Tick Subcommittee

TSCRA PAC
Fundraising Subcommittee

ISSUES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Communications • News Media • Policy Messaging • Cattle Fever Ticks • Surface Damage • High-Speed Rail • Municipal Annexation • City and County Regulatory Issues • Land Use Regulations • Mineral Interests • Oil and Gas Exploration • Liability and Torts • Farm Animal Liability Act • Federal and State Taxes • Agricultural Valuation • Death Tax • Border Security • Immigration • Fence Law • Trespass • Law Enforcement • Labor • Broadband • Rural Health • PAC Fundraising Activities

AGENCIES
Texas Public Utilities Commission • Texas Railroad Commission • Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts • Texas Department of Agriculture • Texas Department of Public Safety • Texas Commission on Law Enforcement • U.S. Internal Revenue Service • U.S. Department of Labor • USDA-National Agricultural Statistics Service

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The Cattleman Magazine

The Cattleman magazine is received monthly by TSCRA members as part of their membership in the organization.

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RSS Upcoming Events

  • Virtual Ranching 101: The Importance of Record Keeping - Tue, Jun 17, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm
  • Uvalde Ranch Gathering - Wed, Jul 9, 2025 5:30pm - 7:30pm @ Oasis Outback
  • Virtual Ranching 101: Beat the Heat, Summer Tips for Cattle Producers - Tue, Jul 15, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm

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