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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Legislative”
Environmentalists and some high-profile supporters of President Donald Trump are criticizing his proposed budget for not including enough money for Everglades restoration. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., issued a news release Wednesday saying the White House budget request “failed to include sufficient funding for …
Singling out farmers south of Lake Okeechobee during a speech to area residents in Cape Coral, Florida, in late February, Rep. Francis Rooney (R – SW FL District 19) stated he wants to “try to deal with the continuing menace of agriculture in the EAA (Everglades Agriculture Area).” This video excerpt of the congressman’s comments, transcribed below, is now being …
Florida Farm Bureau (FFB) members again hosted state lawmakers for food and festivities during the opening week of the legislative session, as part of the annual Farm Bureau Days event Wednesday at the state Capitol. Farm Bureau organizes this event and involves many of the state’s other commodity groups and related businesses, as a way to help educate lawmakers about …
The Florida legislative session begins next week, and Florida Farm Bureau (FFB) is ready for a busy session. Adam Basford, FFB legislative affairs director, is gearing up to fight for Florida agriculture. Every year, FFB has multiple priorities to bring to legislators. For this session, one of the biggest focus points will be on the damage caused by Hurricane Michael, …
After months of renegotiation talks, trade representatives revealed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is poised to replace the current North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, there have been changes in Washington, D.C., following the general election that may stall the USMCA. Bill Lane, executive director of Trade for America, briefly discussed this issue during his presentation at the recent …
Changes are happening in Washington, D.C., and some of them will impact agriculture. Robert Redding, an agricultural lobbyist, discussed these changes during the recent Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Savannah, Georgia. Bob Goodlatte, former House representative, has retired, thus vacating his seat as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “He (Goodlatte) was a leader on ag labor reform,” …
With officials seeing a potentially lucrative industry, Senate Agriculture Chairman Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, is proposing creation of a state hemp program. Albritton on Thursday filed a bill that would set up the program under the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill came after Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried last week named Holly Bell as the state’s first director …
The Department of Commerce recently announced that the United States will be withdrawing from the 2013 Suspension Agreement on Fresh Tomatoes from Mexico beginning May 7. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross indicated in a statement that the decision is a result of complaints from American tomato growers that their prices are being undercut by imports. The 6-year-old agreement prevented an anti-dumping investigation …
This year, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) will be focusing on crucial legislation in Washington, D.C. Charles Hall, GFVGA executive director, says the two pieces of legislation the association will be focusing on the most are the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and disaster relief. Hall says he is worried about the USMCA and is going to spend a …
After a month-long shutdown, the federal government reopens officially for three weeks following an announcement from President Donald Trump. The 800,000 federal workers who have been on furlough will be receiving back pay for the days that offices were closed due to the shutdown. The funding will keep the government running until Feb. 15. “I am very proud to announce …
