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Legislative Update - May 2007
May 31, 2007
NACD Farm Bill Update
Last week, the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill crossed its first
hurdle; the House Agriculture Conservation Subcommittee mark-up session.
Altogether, 27 amendments were offered by the subcommittee, with six
amendments approved during mark-up. The amendment which prompted an
NACD alert earlier this week, brought forward from Rep. Space of Ohio
regarding shifting administration of all conservation programs to the
Farm Service Agency, was among the amendments withdrawn. Rep. Space
withdrew the amendment with the understanding that the Agriculture Committee
plans to address the issue of USDA reorganization next year.
Specific program proposals from the Subcommittee include increased
funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, with provisions
for private forest lands and specialty crops included in the program,
and increased funding for the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program.
Funding for new contracts would not be provided under the Conservation
Security Program, which would be placed on hold until 2012. The Conservation
Reserve Program and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program would receive
funding at existing levels, while the Wetlands Reserve Program and the
Grasslands Reserve Program would be continued but with no provision
for future funding. Conservation programs could receive additional funding,
should a $20 billion reserve fund that was set aside for the Farm Bill
in the FY 2008 budget become available.
The Subcommittee’s action represents the first step in the actual
“writing” of the Farm Bill, and while it did not include everything
NACD was seeking, in does include increased participation in the locally-led
process with additional producers added to the State Technical Committees,
streamlining of applications, and increased forestry and fruit and vegetable
provisions in the existing conservation programs. We will continue to
work with the committee regarding funding for CSP to ensure that there
are sign-ups during the life of the 2007 Farm Bill, and continue to
clarify additional concerns and program details.
Several resources on the House Conservation Title Proposal are available.
A summary and full text of the House proposal is available on the House
Agriculture website: http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html
Please click on the link below for a summary of conservation program
funding under the House proposal, additional funding should the reserve
be released, as well as historical funding from the 2002 Farm Bill.
http://www.pacd.org/about/legactivities/HouseConservationTitleProposal
ProgramFunding1.pdf
The coming weeks will be a period of considerable activity, negotiation
and debate among members of the House Agriculture committee. Next week,
Members of Congress return home to visit with constituencies in their
districts. This presents an excellent opportunity to voice support of
Conservation Programs. All titles of the Farm Bill are expected to come
before the full committee before the July 4 recess. We will continue
to issue further updates or alerts as events unfold.
Jeremy Peters
Grassroots Coordinator
National Association of Conservation Districts
509 Capitol Court, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 547-6223, ex 224, fax (202) 547-6450
jeremy-peters@nacdnet.org
May 24, 2007
Budget Update
The PA House of Representatives introduced the Governor’s budget
and we were fortunate enough to have Representative Douglas Reichley
draft 3 amendments to increase conservation district funding by $ 3
million. The amendments would have increased the CDFAP in the PA Department
of Agriculture budget by $1 million, increased the CDFAP in the PA Department
of Environmental Protection budget by $1 million, and created a line
item of $1 million for Chapter 105. After these amendments were drafted
the House decided not to entertain any of the 240 drafted amendments,
so Rep. Reichley never had the opportunity to address district funding.
The budget bill will most likely pass the House without amendments and
go to the Senate for consideration when they return to Harrisburg on
June 4. At that time the Senate will almost certainly amend the document
and send it back to the House, who will non-concur in Senate amendments
and send the bill to a conference committee. During the conference committee
negotiations, the final budget draft will be created and each chamber
will have the opportunity to accept or reject the proposal as a whole
without the opportunity for further amendments.
PACD Sends Letters of Support to House Members for HB 13(Land
Owner Liability Legislation) HB 13 Letter (Word)
(PDF)
PACD sends letter to PA General Assembly on funding for the PA Dirt
and Gravel Road Program (Word)
(PDF)
May 17, 2007
PACD Sends Letter of Support to PA Congressional Delegation Concerning
Conservation Funding
Conservation Funding Letter (Word)
(PDF)
May 10, 2007
House Environmental Resources Committee Passes Three Bills
HB 110, introduced by Representative Vitali, requires a report
on potential global warming impacts and economic opportunities for the
Commonwealth to be prepared by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Additionally, the department would create an inventory of greenhouse
gases (GHG) emitted in PA by all sources. The inventory would establish
GHG emission trends and the relative contribution of major sectors.
The department would establish a baseline of GHG emissions that it would
use to project future GHG emissions in PA in the absence of government
intervention. The inventory and baseline would be presented to the Governor
and stakeholders every three years as part of the GHG plan of action.
The department would also create a voluntary greenhouse gas registry
through which interested businesses, governments, institutions and other
entities could record any reductions in greenhouse gas emissions or
any avoided emissions of greenhouse gas emissions that are achieved
in the absence of any government regulation.
HR 112, introduced by Representative Jennifer Mann, is a resolution
directing the Department of Environmental Protection to identify and
implement policies which encourage the use of current electronic waste
recycling programs and expand existing programs.
HB 366, introduced by Representative Bud George, establishes
the State Energy Office in the Department of Environmental Protection
to promote the goals of energy development and energy conservation.
The legislation provides for the powers and duties of the office, including
to promote the development of PA's indigenous and renewable energy,
to assist the Department of General Services in promoting the efficient
use of energy by the State government, and to be the point of contact
for private and government energy matters and the lead Commonwealth
agency for energy policy development.
Senate Agriculture Committee
The Senate Agriculture Committee met and passed SB 799, introduced by
Senator Mary Jo White. This legislation states that qualified faculty
members from regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh would
be eligible for grants of up to $60,000.
House introduces Budget Bill, HB 1286
The bill is basically the Governor's proposed budget. Representative
Douglas Reichley is planning on introducing amendments to the budget
document when it is considered on the House floor, tentatively scheduled
for the week of May 21st. His amendments will increase the PA Department
of Agriculture Conservation District line by $1 million, the PA DEP
Conservation District line by $1 million, and adding a line for Chapter
105 for $1 million. We will be asking all Representatives to support
these amendments. Please contact your legislators and ask them to support
the Reichley amendments.
For a copy of these bills visit www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm.
May 2, 2007
Senate Environmental Committee Meets
The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee met this week
and passed SB 782 and SB 815. SB 782 increases fees on nuclear power
plants and transport escorts. SB 815 amends the Storage Tank Act on
extend the sunset dates on certain programs. For copies of these bills
go to
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm
DEP Releases Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Implementation Documents
DEP has prepared new guidelines for sewage facilities planning as well
as permitting for wastewater treatment facilities in the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed. These documents relating to PA's Chesapeake Bay Tributary
Strategy, Point Source Implementation Plan include "Implementation
Plan for NPDES Permitting" and "Implementation Plan for Sewage
Facilities Planning" and can be seen at:
http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/chesapeake/cwp/view.asp?a=3&Q=
442886&chesapeakeNav=|29958|
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