Washington Update

presented to

2004 Beltwide Cotton Production Conference

Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Solutions

Washington Update

presented to

2004 Beltwide Cotton Production Conference

Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Solutions

Challenges and OpportunitiesChallenges and Opportunities

• Farm Bill--defense• Trade Policy--legislate, negotiate and

enforce effective trade policy• Appropriations-- fund key programs,

which build demand and enhance competitiveness

• Environment--biotech and conventional • Conservation-- programs that work• Politics--stay involved & prepare for

change

• Farm Bill--defense• Trade Policy--legislate, negotiate and

enforce effective trade policy• Appropriations-- fund key programs,

which build demand and enhance competitiveness

• Environment--biotech and conventional • Conservation-- programs that work• Politics--stay involved & prepare for

change

Congress returns Jan. 20Congress returns Jan. 20

Unfinished• FY04 Omnibus

Appropriations• Energy Bill

Unfinished• FY04 Omnibus

Appropriations• Energy Bill

New • Budget resolution• Appropriations• Other

ETI repeal Transportation Immigration

New • Budget resolution• Appropriations• Other

ETI repeal Transportation Immigration

Farm Bill/Cotton Program Defense

“No legislative amendments are being proposed which would enhance the cotton program!”

Farm Bill/Cotton Program Defense

“No legislative amendments are being proposed which would enhance the cotton program!”

• Domestic challenges Budget based Philosophically based

• Solutions Build coalitions Identify and educate decision makers Respond to press attacks when it’s effective

• Domestic challenges Budget based Philosophically based

• Solutions Build coalitions Identify and educate decision makers Respond to press attacks when it’s effective

Farm Bill/Cotton Program Defense

“No one is proposing trade agreements provisions that strengthen the US cotton program!”

Farm Bill/Cotton Program Defense

“No one is proposing trade agreements provisions that strengthen the US cotton program!”

• International challenges Brazil’s WTO complaint WTO Doha round African initiative

• Solutions Support US government’s defense efforts Challenge others to discuss all trade distorting

practices

• International challenges Brazil’s WTO complaint WTO Doha round African initiative

• Solutions Support US government’s defense efforts Challenge others to discuss all trade distorting

practices

Attacks Are Not P.R. Problems!

Attacks Are Not P.R. Problems!

P.R. -vs- Crisis Management

Trade Policy ChallengesTrade Policy Challenges

• Negotiate beneficial trade agreements

• Support responsible trade legislation

• Enforce existing trade agreements China textile safeguard China market access

• Promote market based exchange rates

• Negotiate beneficial trade agreements

• Support responsible trade legislation

• Enforce existing trade agreements China textile safeguard China market access

• Promote market based exchange rates

Appropriations Fund Public-Private Partnerships

Appropriations Fund Public-Private Partnerships

• Boll Weevil Eradication

• Pink Bollworm Eradication

• Aflatoxin control

• Textile marker system

• Export promotion

• Boll Weevil Eradication

• Pink Bollworm Eradication

• Aflatoxin control

• Textile marker system

• Export promotion

Conservation and EnvironmentConservation and Environment

• Conservation programs CRP, WRP, and EQIP Conservation Security Program (CSP)

• Biotech products Availability Acceptance

• Conventional products Timely registrations and reasonable

regulations

• Conservation programs CRP, WRP, and EQIP Conservation Security Program (CSP)

• Biotech products Availability Acceptance

• Conventional products Timely registrations and reasonable

regulations

Politics and ElectionsSupport Your Political Action Committee-CAC

Politics and ElectionsSupport Your Political Action Committee-CAC

• House Agriculture Committee leaders-Stenholm (TX) Ways and Means Cmte Chair-Thomas (CA) Ag Approps Sbcmte Chair-Bonilla (TX) Redistricting and retirements

• Senate Agriculture Committee Chair-Cochran (MS) Majority leader- Frist (TN) 6 new cottonbelt Senators elected in 2002 6 cottonbelt Senators retiring at end of 2004

• House Agriculture Committee leaders-Stenholm (TX) Ways and Means Cmte Chair-Thomas (CA) Ag Approps Sbcmte Chair-Bonilla (TX) Redistricting and retirements

• Senate Agriculture Committee Chair-Cochran (MS) Majority leader- Frist (TN) 6 new cottonbelt Senators elected in 2002 6 cottonbelt Senators retiring at end of 2004

NCC Needs Your SupportNCC Needs Your Support

• Resources to preserve cotton program- respond to domestic international challenges-assist domestic mills—maintain competitiveness economic analysis legal expertise communications capabilities political resources

• Resources to preserve cotton program- respond to domestic international challenges-assist domestic mills—maintain competitiveness economic analysis legal expertise communications capabilities political resources