KEN HODGES

UBIT-Unrelated Business income Tax. The non-profit Texas Farm Bureau receives income from its arrangement with for-profit affiliated entities. Considering that the for-profit entity already pays taxes on profits as is appropriate, the U.S. tax code provides for special consideration for the non-profit. These considerations have been extended for one or two year periods through legislation. Texas Farm Bureau seeks to gain temporary or permanent extension of this consideration. Tax Extenders Package - Section 179 Expensing Section 179 allows small business owners (including farmers) to receive their entire depreciation deduction in one year. Texas Farm Bureau seeks an extension of Section 179 levels (the maximum amount to expense would move from $25,000 back to $500,000 - as it was from 2010 to 2013 - and the phase-out threshold would be set at $2 million).

WOTUS Rule by EPA The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are seeking public comments on a proposed rulemaking that will vastly expand the federal jurisdictional of the Clean Water Act. If finalized, many ditches, farm ponds, waterways, erosion control features, and adjacent wetland areas could be interpreted to be waters of the United States and therefore regulated by the EPA and Corps of Engineers. Texas Farm Bureau seeks to have EPA and the Corps of Engineers withdraw this damaging and extremely unpopular rule.

Clean Water Reauthorization Agriculture producers must have the ability to manage their operations in the best management practices they are able. As the owner and original conservator of natural resources, producers are motivated to protect and conserve resources. However, efforts to expand government authority and regulation to cover additional water resources places undue burdens upon producer compliance. Texas Farm Bureau seeks to restrain the heavy hand of government regulations on farms and ranches.

Support for passage of Farm Bill, providing authority for comparable program, research promotion and trade.

Texas Farm Bureau is a proponent for improved international trade agreements. Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) for the President is currently expired. Farm Bureau supports re-authorizing TPA to facilitate efforts on the Trans Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

S.744 - Border Security, Economic-Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act Guest Worker Program

Support for passage of Farm Bill, providing authority for comparable program, research promotion and trade.

S.744 - Border Security, Economic-Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act Guest Worker Program

Support for passage of Farm Bill, providing authority for comparable program, research promotion and trade.

Support for passage of Farm Bill, Providing authority for comparable program, research and promotion and trade.

S. 744 - Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act Guest Worker Program

Russia PNTR Permanent Normalized Trade Relations - Russia PNTR Permanent Normalized Trade Relations In order for Russia to gain fully recognized membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) the United States must make permanent in law its current normalized trade relationship. WTO status for Russia provides both enhanced trade opportunities for U.S. producers, as well as a clear set or trade rules that Russia is supposed to comply with in order to provide U.S. producers fair treatment in trade relations. Texas Farm Bureau seeks to secure PNTR status for Russia.

Support for passage of Farm Bill. Providing authority for comparable program, research promotion and trade.

Support Estate Tax extension to provide individual exemption and stepped-up basis to protect agriculture operations.

Support for passage of Farm Bill. Providing authority for commodity program, research promotion and trade

S 787 Clean Water Reauthorization Act, all provisions related to agriculture.

Support Estate Tax extension to provide individual exemption and stepped-up basis to protect agriculture operations.

Support for passage of Farm Bill. Providing authority for comparable program, research promotion and trade.

Child Labor Regulations Congress considered legislation limiting the authority of the Department of Labor pertaining to restricting the ability of family farming operations to employ juvenile family members. The DOL was considering restrictions that would have interfered with the common and normal practice of allowing farm children to work alongside family members and learn valuable work skills.

Pending Free Trade Agreements - Panama, South Korea and Columbia. Relating to provisions that promote the ability of U.S. agriculture commodities to be traded with reduced tariffs to these countires.

E-Verify Legislation - H.R. 2164, the Legal Workforce Act. Relating to provision regarding the treatment of agriculture employers and their ability to have an adequate workforce.

Farm Bill - Monitoring activity of "Super Committee" communicating of selected delegation members on various proposals for 2012 farm legislation

Pending Free Trade Agreements Panama, South Korea, and Columbia. Relating to provisions that promote the ability of U.S. agriculture commodities to be traded with reduced tariffs to these countries.

FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill H.R. 2112. Relating to provisions regarding agriculture research, promotion, education, and trade.

HR 2414 AGJOBS Act of 2009 Guest Worker Program

S 787 Clean Water Reauthorization Act, all provisions related to agriculture.

HR 4154 To permanently reform the Estate Tax

HR 4645 - To promote agriculture trade with Cuba by removing 3rd country financing requirements and opening up all travel restrictions for U.S. Citizens

HR 4645 - Cuba Trade This legislation eliminates costly obstacles for American farmers interested in exporting to Cuba and will expand the potential for increased food consumption, providing an even greater opportunity to export U.S. products to the market. The legislation will: Clarify the definition of cash payment in advance; Eliminate the need to have Cuba go through a third-country bank to pay for U.S. product. Cuba would be allowed to directly wire payment to U.S. banks; & Remove all travel restrictions on Cuba.

House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2011 spending bill. House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2011 spending bill. The annual spending bill provides $23.1 billion in discretionary spending. The agriculture appropriations bill provides funding for a wide array of federal programs, mostly within USDA. These programs include: agricultural research; education and extension activities; natural resources conservation programs; food safety, marketing and inspection activities; rural economic and community development activities; telecommunications and electrification assistance; and various export and international activities of the USDA.

H. R. 4154 Permanent Estate Tax Relief for Families, Farmers, and Small Business Act of 2009

H.J. Res. 76 - Green House Gas Emmissions

S 787 Clean Water Reauthorization Act

Fever Tick Program

Clean Water Act Amendment SB 787

Agriculture Appropriations Bill

H.R. 1530 - Free Trade With Cuba Act

HR 503 - Equine Processing

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Columbian Free Trade Amendment

H.R. 2419 Farm Bill Implentation

H. R. 2410 - Omnibus Farm Bill, Title I Commodity Title

H. R. 2421 - Clean Water Act Amendments S. 1807 - Clean Water Act Amendments

H. R. 2421: Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007

Emergency Agriculture Relief Act (EARA)

H. R. 2421 - Clean Water Act Amendments S. 1807 - Clean Water Act Amendments

H. R. 2410 - Omnibus Farm Bill, Title I Commodity Title

H.R. 2419: Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007

S.1348 - The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act

HR 2419 - The Farm Bill

Immigration Reform

CERCLA Exemption for Agriculture

CERCLA Exemption for Agriculture

HR 2419 - The Farm Bill

Immigration Reform

Comprehensive Immigration Legislation

Disaster Assistance