2004 Legislative Fly-In Policy Conferene

Karen Stuck, Assistant Administrator in the Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA spoke to the Grange attendees about the impact of BSE on the U.S. trade and the efforts that the USDA is making to restore the food safety and decrease the market loss. Stuck said Canada and U.S. lost virtually all beef export markets after BSE findings. USDA forecasts that total beef exports for major exporting countries will decline in 2004. She emphasized that USDA's current safeguards program includes a ban on non-ambulatory disabled cattle and specified risk materials and they are trying very hard to get back consumer confidence.

Related Information
BSE Information and Resources from FSIS

Tadashi Sato, Agriculture Attaché in the Embassy of Japan gave his remark about the change of Japanese consumer's attitude to the U.S. beef after the outbreak of BSE in the U.S. and BSE preventive measures in Japan. Sato said, "U.S. beef has lost its credibility in Japan after the announcement of BSE in the U.S." Japanese government has operated the Beef Traceability System since December, 2003 and the protection of the people's health and safety has become a number one priority in Japan's food safety policy. Sato emphasized Japan's policy to check all slaughtered cattle for mad cow disease.

Related Information
US, Japan plan more talks to resolve BSE deadlock
Tokyo dismisses BSE proposals of global body
Japan Still Wants US Mad Cow Checks After Accord

Arturo Calderon, Agriculture Attaché in the Embassy of Mexico spoke to the Grange attendees about the trade relationship between the U.S. and Mexico and Mexico's reaction to the BSE in the U.S. Calderon said, "the trade between U.S.-Mexico has grown by over 188% since 1993, and Mexico has become a key trade partner for the U.S., becoming its second largest trade partner after Canada." During 2003, U.S. beef exports to Mexico reached $1.1 billion, second behind the amount shipped to Japan - $1.4 billion. In the U.S. BSE incident, Mexico provisionally closed its border while a risk-analysis was carried-out. In the mean time, in order to find a proper and transparent solution based upon science, several meetings between USDA and SAGARPA were held. Once the Mexican authorities confirmed that the US authorities themselves, which offered to comply with 6 conditions, were complying, the border was partially re-opened. "Everyone should keep in mind the level of good-will that both countries have achieved," Calderon said.

Related Information
Mexico partially lifts ban on U.S. beef 03/04/04

Alan Daley, Director of Security and Infrastructure issues, Verizon Inc. informed Grange members about Verizon's evolving telecommunications infrastructure such as DSL broadband, Wifi, national mobile wireless service, etc. Mr. Daley emphasized the benefits telemedicine offers to rural communities and the importance of high-speed internet access for its availability. Some benefits include decreasing transportation costs to urban patient centers and providing specialized medical access to remote areas such as Alaska. He said to make these services available we must have the high-speed infrastructure available so that information can be downloaded and uploaded at near 3 megabits per second.

Related information
www.webmd.com
National Library of Medicine
www.ideatel.org

Julie Goon, Director of Medicare Outreach and Senior Advisor to the Secretary, gave an overview of the new Medicare Prescription Drug program to the Fly-In participants. Goon said HHS is working hard to inform and educate U.S. drug consumers about the Medicare Prescription drug card and realizing the level of interest is very high. Since HHS Secretary announced official sponsors on March 25, consumers should check which card fits them best. Personalized booklet will be mailed if it is ordered over the phone (1-800-Medicare) or Internet (www.medicare.gov). Prescription drug cards can be chosen by pharmacies, fees, or reputation of the card company. Goon stressed that consumers also need to think about conjunction with other programs. From June 1st, the card starts rolling through. Now the agency is pleased with public responses so far and has an optimistic view of the future implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug program.

Related Information
www.medicare.gov
OVERVIEW: Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Card and Transitional Assistance Program
National Grange View from the Hill: Senator Dole Discusses New Medicare Drug Benefit
National Grange Action Alert: Medicare Drug Discount Card Program Will Soon Be a Reality!

Forest Harper, Vice President of Pfizer Inc., gave his speech regarding Pfizer's outreach program of the Medicare Prescription drug card. Pfizer has worked hard to reach as many people as possible and helped them to find the right information to get the discount drug card benefits. Harper introduced the U Share Card program that Pfizer is now participating in to offer prescription drug savings to all eligible Medicare beneficiaries. Through the U Share Card, Pfizer will extend the $15 flat fee pricing for Pfizer medicines to Medicare beneficiaries with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($18,620 single, $24,980 married). He also circulated the U Share Card information website and phone number: www.usharerx.com 1-800-707-3914

Related Information
News from Pfizer: Pfizer's Share Card Program Joins UnitedHealth Group* in Discount Card Coalition

Mark Palmer, National Biodiesel Board, spoke of the significance of biodiesel to farmers and what should be done for the increased use of biodiesel. Palmer said increased biodiesel use would contribute to the agriculture economy as well as national energy security since it is produced from vegetables such as soybean oils from U.S. farm. It will also help stimulate jobs and reduce farm residue. But the cost of biodiesel is too high to compete with other fuels so it needs tax incentive. He asked for support for the Transportation bill and Foreign Corporate Tax bill now pending in Congress.

Related Information
www.biodiesel.org
Senate Passes Jobs Bill Including Biodiesel Tax Provisions (5/12/04)
NBB and ASA Praise Senate for Approval of Transportation Bill that Includes Biodiesel Tax Incentive
National Grange Action Alert: Oppose CA State Regulation to Discourage Biodiesel Use!

Adam Sharp, Acting Counselor to the Administrator for Agriculture Issues, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, updated some pesticide, air and water regulations and introduced EPA's efforts to educate people about the agency's new regulations and programs. Sharp informed that under an emergency exemption authorized by EPA, emergency use of pesticides per pest outbreak is allowed for 30 days. He also mentioned, that the use of Methyl bromide needs to be considered from the perspective of international treaty as well as domestic regulations.

Related Information
www.epa.org
National Grange Action Alert: Support the U.S. Government's Proposed Rule to Streamline the Pesticides Approval Process!

David Senter, COO Kimmitt Senter Coates & Weinfurter and Director for the American Agriculture Wind Coalition, informed Grange members about the possible benefits of wind energy for farmers and rural landowners. Today, wind developers are installing large wind turbines on farms and ranches in a number of sates to provide power to electric companies and consumers. Wind energy alone could provide $1.2 billion in new income for farmers and rural landowners by 2020, and 80,000 new jobs. Senter said, "farmers can benefit from wind energy by generating their own power, leasing land to wind developers, or becoming wind developers themselves." One wind turbine uses only ¼ acre of land including access roads, and can earn royalties up to $2000 per year.

Related Information
Electricity from the Wind: USDA Farm Bill Section 9006 Provides Funding for Farm and Ranch Wind Projects
American Wind Energy Association