RUTHANN GEIB

General sugar policy provisions in discussions of the 2018 Farm Bill Signed letters with other commodity groups to USDA and FDA regarding plant breeding and biotechnology. Signed letters with other commodity groups to Senate and House offices and EPA regarding Section 18 on Chlorothalonil (a fungicide). Signed letters with other commodity groups to EPA regarding Waters of the U.S.

General discussions with House and Senate members and staff regarding agriculture in FY 2018 Budget and Appropriations bills (no bill numbers at this time).

Updates for House and Senate members and staff on the Mexico sugar suspension agreements.

HR 2642 Agricultural Act of 2014 regarding Sugar Policy; Signed letter of support from commodity groups to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for the confirmation of USDA Secretary nominee Sonny Perdue HR 5 Regulatory Accountability Act, in support. This bill revises federal rulemaking procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to require a federal agency to make all preliminary and final factual determinations based on evidence and to consider: (1) the legal authority under which a rule may be proposed; (2) the specific nature and significance of the problem the agency may address with a rule; (3) whether existing rules have created or contributed to the problem the agency may address with a rule and whether such rules may be amended or rescinded; (4) any reasonable alternatives for a new rule; and (5) the potential costs and benefits associated with potential alternative rules, including impacts on low-income populations

No current legislation pending at this time on agricultural (sugar) policy.

No current legislation or desired congressional action pending at this time on trade issues.

1. Monitored and advised members of Congress regarding the U.S.-Mexico suspension agreements on sugar that seek to resolve and end the dumping and circumvention of Mexican sugar into the U.S. market. 2. Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): general information and discussions with MOCs and staff on sugar-related issues. 3. U.S.-EU Trade Agreement (TTIP): general information and discussions with MOCs and staff on sugar-related issues. 4. Advised MOCs and staff on matters of foreign subsidization of sugar.

1. Advised MOCs and staff on impacts of implementation of the Waters of the United States rule 2. Activity with ag-related Chlorpyrophos Coaltion regarding the attempts by EPA to deregister chlorpyrophos and findings of the Scientific Advisory Panel.

1. Monitored likelihood of possible legislative activity in appropriations (both House and Senate) regarding sugar policy. 2. Implementation of the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill sugar policy. 3. SUPPORTED the "Biotech Labeling Solutions Act," (S 2609)and encouraged senators to support the voluntary federal preemption labeling bill for foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients. This would preempt state labeling laws and initiatives. Signed letters to senators and held numerous meetings with members and staff.

1. Monitored and advised members of Congress, USDA and USTR regarding the U.S.-Mexico suspension agreements on sugar that seek to resolve and end the dumping of Mexican sugar into the U.S. market and the subsidization of the Mexican sugar industry by the government of Mexico. 2. Trans-Pacific Partnership - general information and discussions with MOCs, USDA and USTR on sugar-related issues. 3. U.S.-EU Trade agreement (TTIP)- general information and discussions with MOCs, USDA and USTR on sugar-related issues. 4. Advised MOCs and staff on matters of foreign subsidization of sugar industries.

EPA's implementation of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) provisions. Advised members of Congress of association membership opposition to the broad definition of waters under the jurisdiction of the EPA as it pertains to agriculture.

Promoted the inclusion of tax issues Sec. 179 and bonus depreciation to make them permanent, or at provide a 2-year extension, in a year-end legislative vehicle (budget, omnibus, etc.). 1. Sec. 179 (make permanent): Extension and modification of increased expensing limitations and treatment of certain real property as section 179 property. The provision permanently extends the small business expensing limitation and phase-out amounts in effect from 2010 to 2014 ($500,000 and $2 million, respectively). 2. Bonus depreciation: Extension and modification. The provision extends bonus depreciation for property acquired and placed in service during 2015 through 2019 (with an additional year for certain property with a longer production period). The bonus depreciation percentage is 50 percent for property placed in service during 2015, 2016 and 2017 and phases down, with 40 percent in 2018, and 30 percent in 2019. The provision continues to allow taxpayers to elect to accelerate the use of AMT credits in lieu of bonus depreciation under special rules for property placed in service during 2015. The provision modifies the AMT rules beginning in 2016 by increasing the amount of unused AMT credits that may be claimed in lieu of bonus depreciation. The provision also modifies bonus depreciation to include qualified improvement property and to permit certain trees, vines, and plants bearing fruit or nuts to be eligible for bonus depreciation when planted or grafted, rather than when placed in service.

U.S.- Mexico suspension agreements - advising members of Congress on efforts to resolve and end the dumping of Mexican sugar in the U.S. market and the subsidization of the Mexican sugar industry by the Mexican government Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement - opposing additional sugar access for the U.S. market

HR 1599, Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 - supported the federal preemption labeling bill to provide for voluntary labeling of foods that contain genetically engineered ingredients. This would preempt state labeling laws and initiatives. Monitored possible appropriations activity on sugar policy in both House and Senate Monitored implementation of the provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill sugar policy Advised members of Congress on concerns regarding the implementation of the "Waters of the U.S." regulations

House and Senate FY 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bills - possible amendments regarding sugar policy EPA Clean Water ACT/Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)final rule Implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill sugar provisions APH Trend Adjusted crop insurance

U.S. Mexico Suspension Agreement - International Trade Commission and Dept. of Commerce actions Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement - additional sugar access

Implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill sugar provisions Shaheen Amendment #600 to the FY2016 Budget bill - opposed Possible Appropriations activity on sugar policy, both House and Senate APH Trend-Adjusted crop insurance

Biotechnology - Labeling issues for genetically modified foods (HR 4432); pace of approvals for new traits USDA regarding open position at ERS-USDA for sugar analyst

Informing congressional offices of sugar industry anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases against Mexico

2013 Farm Bill and sugar provisions Crop insurance U.S. sugar policy implementation Biotechnology - Roundup Ready sugarbeets

2013 Farm Bill and sugar provisions U.S. Sugar Policy implementation

2013 Farm Bill and sugar provisions U.S. sugar policy implementation

S 954 and HR 1947 Senate and House Farm Bills; Sugar policy amendments to both (sponsored by Shaheen in the Senate, Pitts in the House); FY 2014 Senate and House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bills; possible sugar policy amendments to both; sugarbeet research facility funding FY 2014

U.S.-Mexico Sugar Policy Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement U.S-EU Free Trade Agreement

2013 Farm Bill U.S. Sugar Policy

2012 Farm Bill U.S. Sugar policy

2012 Farm Bill U.S. Sugar Policy

2012 Farm Bill (S. 3240) U.S. Sugar Policy

U.S. sugar policy and 2012 Farm Bill (S. 3240) Sugar imports from Mexico/other trade agreements (Trans-Pacific Partnership) Roundup Ready sugarbeets Clean Water/EPA regulations

U.S. sugar policy 2012 Farm Bill Crop Insurance Roundup Ready sugarbeets

2012 Farm Bill U.S. Sugar Policy: House and Senate bills HR 1385, HR 1739, S 25 and S 685; import policy Roundup Ready sugarbeets Clean Water

2012 Farm Bill U.S. Sugar Policy Roundup Ready sugarbeets Clean Water

2012 Farm Bill U.S. sugar policy Roundup Ready sugarbeets

HR 6124 Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008: Title 1 - sugar (administration of the tariff-rate quota) USDA Risk Management Agency: crop insurance issues HR 2454 American Clean Energy and Security Act/S. Res. 26/S. 787 Clean Water Restoration Act USDA-APHIS - Environmental Impact Statement comments for Roundup Ready sugarbeets

HR 6124 Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008: Title I - sugar (administration of the tariff rate quota) FY2011 Ag Appropriations (no bill number): ARS funding for sugarbeet research projects USDA Risk Management Agency: crop insurance issues Disaster assistance (no bill number) HR 2454 American Clean Energy and Security Act S 787 Clean Water Restoration Act

HR 4101 New Partnership for Trade Development Act of 2009: Duty-free/quota-free sugar access to U.S. market Farm and Foreign Ag Service, USDA: Administration of sugar tariff rate quota, bilateral trade issues in sugar (NAFTA)

HR 6124 Food, conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Title I - sugar policy (Administration of the tariff rate quota) FY 2011 Ag Appropriations (no bill number) - ARS funding for sugarbeet research projects USDA Farm and Foreign Ag Service - Administration of sugar tariff rate quota, bilateral trade issues in sugar (NAFTA) USDA Risk Management Agency - crop insurance issues Disaster assistance (no bill number) HR 2454 American Clean Energy and Security Act S 787 - Clean Water Restoration Act

HR 2454 (House) and Senate Committee bill (not numbered) - potential impact on beet sugar industry USDA (FSA) - Sugar import issues (specifically, Mexico) Risk Management Agency - crop insurance issues

FY 2011Research funding needs for ARS units doing sugarbeet research (no bill) HR 2454 (House) - American Clean Energy and Security Act; and Senate bill (unnumbered) - potential impact on agriculture Re-registration of glyphosate - comments filed with EPA Health care reform (Senate) - sweetener tax Also: Crop insurance - pay-go issues on revenue insurance and stage removal.

Multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture that include access for foreign sugar into the U.S. market - DOHA Round of the World Trade Organization Bilateral trade agreements that include access for foreign sugar into the U.S. market - NAFTA

HR 2454 - American Clean Energy and Security Act; HR 2749 Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009; S. 787 - Clean Water Restoration Act; 2009 Highway Bill Reauthorization (no bill number); crop insurance HR 2454 - Climate change legislation and potential impact on agriculture HR 2749 - implications for food production (specifically, sugar) S. 787 - implications for farming practices Highway Bill Reauthorization - implications for transportation of ag products Crop insurance issues for sugarbeets

HR 6124 Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Title I - Sugar policy; Title IX Energy - sugar-to-ethanol provisions Management of sugar policy Climate change legislation (no bill number) and potential impact on agriculture Crop insurance issues for sugarbeets 2009 Highway Bill Reauthorization (no bill number) - provisions relating to vehicles used in agriculture Beet research funding appropriations (USDA)

Multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture that include access for foreign sugar into the U.S. market: Doha Round of the World Trade Organization Bilateral trade agreements that include access for foreign sugar into the U.S. market: NAFTA

HR 6124 Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Title I - Sugar policy; Title IX Energy - sugar-to-ethanol provisions Management of sugar policy 2009 Highway Bill Reauthorization (no bill number) - provisions relating to vehicles used in agriculture

HR 6124 Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008; Title I - sugar policy; Title IX Energy - sugar-to-ethanol provisions Management of sugar policy FY2009 Ag Appropriations (no bill #): ARS funding for sugarbeet research

HR 2419/6124 Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007, Title 1 and Energy Title: All provisions related to sugar policy FY2009 Ag Appropriations (no bill #): ARS funding for sugarbeet research Management of current and 2008 sugar policy

HR 2419, Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007, Title 1 and energy title: All provisions relating to sugar policy FY2009 Ag Appropriations: ARS funding for sugarbeet research Managemetn of current U.S. sugar policy and approval of revenue insurance pilot program Educational activities related to lawuit against USDA for the deregulation of glyphosate-resistant sugarbeets

4. Crop insurance issues. 5. Recommendations on US negotiating position in the World Trade Organization. 6. US - Mexico sweetener dispute. 7. Monitor reregistration of farm chemicals by EPA. 8. Disaster assistance provision for sugarbeets. 9. Development of new crop insurance products. 1. Bills and amendments affecting or pertaining to US sugar policy; HR 2419 The Farm, Nutrition and Bioenery Act (for passage) and related amendments (against). 2. Agriculture Appropriations Bill and Appropriations for sugarbeet research at ARS in Ft. Collins, Colorado. 3. Administration of the US sugar program and the sugar tariff rate import quota.

4. Recommendations on US negotiating position in the World Trade Organization and other bilateral/regional free trade agreements. 5. US - Mexico sweetener dispute. 6. Monitor reregistration of farm chemicals by EPA. 7. Disaster assistance provision for sugarbeets. 8. Development of new crop insurance products. 9. Trade promotion authority. 1. Bills and amendments affecting or pertaining to US sugar policy: HR 2419 The Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act (for passage) and related amendments (against). 2. Agriculture Appropriations Bill and Appropriations for sugarbeet research at ARS in Ft. Collins, Colorado. 3. Administration of the US sugar program and the sugar tariff rate import quota.

2. Administration of the US sugar program and the sugar tariff rate import quota. 3. Recommendations on US negotiating position in the World Trade Organization and other bilateral/regional free trade agreements. 4. US - Mexico sweetener dispute. 5. Monitor reregistration of farm chemicals by EPA. 6. Disaster assistance provision for sugarbeets. 7. Development of new crop insurance products. 8. Trade promotion authority. 1. Bills and amendments affecting or pertaining to US sugar policy and research: Agriculture Appropriations Bill and the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act.