Washington Week Ahead: Ag Day, Senate funding bill set to dominate

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2013 – The week is set to start with quite a bang today as the Agriculture Council of America kicks off the 40th anniversary of National Ag Day offering an array of informative panel discussions, mingling events, and high-profile visibility with top agricultural stakeholders.

A major highlight of the “Generations Nourishing Generations” event is a panel discussion today on “Farm to Fork Politics: An insider’s look at the year ahead for food and agriculture” moderated by Sara Wyant, president of Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

The event will be held at 3:30 p.m. in 902 Hart. Panelists include J.B. Penn, chief economist at John Deere; Keith Collins, former USDA chief economist; and B. Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Information Services Division at the National Restaurant Association.

Following the discussion, Agri-Pulse will hold a free reception in the same location.

Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to resume consideration today of a continuing resolution that would continue funding for federal government departments and agencies, including the USDA, through fiscal year 2013.

The bill would avoid a potential shutdown of the government on March 27. The House approved its continuing resolution on March 6.

In addition, the House is expected to take up a FY 2014 budget proposal that aims to reduce the deficit by more than $4 trillion in 10 years and provide a long-term spending guideline for the USDA.

When the Senate completes its work on the continuing resolution, the chamber is expected to move to its own version of the budget.

Monday, March 18.

10:00 a.m. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., will hold a forum on “Financing Our Nation’s-n- Infrastructure Needs” in CVC-North.

12:00 p.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.

2:00 p.m. The Senate will reconvene to resume consideration of the continuing resolution (H.R. 933).

2:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business.

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Honey

3:30 p.m. Panel discussion on “Farm to Fork Politics: An insider’s look at the year ahead for food and agriculture” moderated by Sara Wyant, president of Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc., in 902 Hart. Panelists include J.B. Penn, chief economist at John Deere; Keith Collins, former USDA chief economist; and B. Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Information Services Division at the National Restaurant Association.

3:30 p.m. The office of Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Del., will host a symposium on “Climate Change Actions under the Clean Air Act: Reducing Plant Emissions without Harming the Economy” at 325 Russell.

5:00 p.m. The Agri-Pulse Ag Day reception will be held in 902 Hart. Admission is free and open to all agricultural stakeholders.

5:00 p.m. The House Rules Committee will meet to consider the rules for the fiscal year 2014 budget resolution in Capitol H-313.

5:30 p.m. The Senate is expected to hold a vote related to the continuing resolution (H.R. 933).

Tuesday, March 19.

9:30 a.m. USFRA Capitol Hill briefing, "The new language of food and modern agriculture," Sewall-Belmont House & Museum
 

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will mark National Agriculture Day in remarks to the U.S. Agribusiness Association.

10:00 a.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.

10:00 a.m. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on “Keeping the Commitment to Rural Communities” in 366 Dirksen.

11:30 National Ag Day Mix-n-Mingle Luncheon
 

12:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business.

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Milk Production:

4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin

4:00 p.m.: USDA Report: Wheat Data

5:00 p.m. Celebration of Agriculture Dinner, USDA
 

Wednesday, March 20.

10:00 a.m. The Senate Health, Education and Labor Committee will go into executive session to discuss S. ____, the Animal Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013 and S. 330, HIV Organ Policy Equity Act in 430 Dirksen.

10:00 a.m. The House Agriculture Committee will hold a business meeting in 1300 Longworth to consider H.R. 634, the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of 2013; H.R. 677, the Inter-Affiliate Swap Clarification Act; H.R. 742, the Swap Data Repository and Clearinghouse Indemnification Correction Act of 2013; H.R. 992, the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act; H.R. 1003, To improve consideration by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of the costs and benefits of its regulations and orders; H.R. 1038, the Public Power Risk Management Act of 2013; and the Swap Jurisdiction Certainty Act (bill number not yet available).

 

10:00 a.m. The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing on the budget for the Commodity Future Trading Commission in 2362-A Rayburn.

10:00 a.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.

12:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business.

2:00 p.m. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on “Building an Immigration System Worthy of American Values” in 226 Dirksen.

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Announcement of Advanced Prices and Pricing Factors

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: National Dairy Products Sales Report

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Catfish Feed Deliveries

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Catfish Processing

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Broiler Hatchery

Thursday, March 21.

Vilsack will discuss a generational commitment to improve childhood nutrition at an event in Atlanta, Ga.

Outgoing deputy secretary Kathleen Merrigan will give opening remarks at the 67th Annual National Association of Produce Market Managers Conference in Columbia, Md.

8:30 a.m. USDA Report: U.S. Export Sales

9:00 a.m. The House will meet for legislative business.

10:00 a.m. The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs will hold a legislative hearing in 1324 Longworth on H.R. 910 to reauthorize the Sikes Act. “Sikes Act Reauthorization Act of 2013,” and H.R. 1080 to amend the Sikes Act to promote the use of cooperative agreements under such an Act for land management related to Defense Department readiness activities and to amend title 10, U.S. Code, to facilitate inter-agency cooperation in conservation programs to avoid or reduce adverse impacts on military readiness activities.

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Livestock Slaughter

3:00 p.m. The House is expected to conduct its last votes of the week.

Friday, March 22.

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Cattle on Feed

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Chickens and Eggs

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Hop Stocks

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Cold Storage

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Peanut Prices

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