05/29/06 NCBA like House ag spending bill

American Rancher May 29, 2006 The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) is expressing solid support for the Fiscal Year 2007 Ag Appropriations Bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Of major concern to NCBA members were a number of potential amendments that could have adversely affected the cattle industry. NCBA says it succeeded in preventing several of these amendments from even being introduced on the House floor, including: elimination of funding for brucellosis/bison management in the Yellowstone region, funding for a National Academies of Sciences study on specified risk material removal from all animal feeds, and an amendment that would undermine FDA`s regulatory authority regarding the use of carbon monoxide in atmospheric packaging. NCBA president Mike John says his organization's efforts on Capitol Hill often involve playing defense, and some of their most important victories are the items that don't pass,. He says appropriations bills are tough because important programs are at risk if the process stalls, yet we can't afford to have amendments attached that are unworkable. The Ag Appropriations process now moves to the U.S. Senate for further action, where debate is not expected until at least mid-June. John emphasized that while the cattle industry enjoyed great success in the House, the legislation still has a challenging road ahead, and he urges cattlemen to remain engaged and speak with their members of Congress. I'm Bob Hoff.