• FARM BILL: - Had several conversations with PA House and Senate Members on farm bill. - Discussed need to be passed on time, supporting a one-year extension, Farm Bureau priorities. - Listened to legislators' concerns with farm bill as well as their individual priorities for the legislation. - Encouraged PFB members to complete AFBF's advocacy email asking for Congress to pass a farm bill ASAP and include a legislative fix to prop 12. - President Hoffman met with PA delegation on 2/6, 2/7, and 2/8 primarily talking about farm bill and to include a legislative fix to prop 12. ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.1014/H.R.1756, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act, which would mandate cost and yield surveying of processors to participate in the NDPSR survey every two years. - S.980/H.R.3755, the Industrial Hemp Act, which would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid hemp like that used in the extraction of CBD. - S.1867/H.R.3922, the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act, which would direct USDA to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. - S.1837/H.R.3867, the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which would designate spotted lanternflies as a high priority pest under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to direct more federal research dollars to combat these devastating insects. - S.1816/H.R.3815, the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act, which would require a USDA study on providing crop insurance for mushroom farmers. - S.2458/H.R.3904, the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which would help our next generation of farmers by aligning the definition of Beginning Farmers to match that of other USDA programs - 10 crop years or less instead of the status quo of 5 crop years or less. - S.1400/H.R.3036, the Increased TSP Access Act, which would help streamline the technical service provider (TSP) certification at NRCS and leverage the programs and technical expertise of NRCS to make conservation programs available to more farmers and on more land. - S.2614, the Farmer to Farmer Education Act, which would allow farmer-to-farmer groups to develop cooperative agreements with USDA to share conservation concepts and new practices. - H.R.4856, the GusNIP Expansion Act, which would enhance and expand the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which awards competitive grant funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for projects that provide incentives to income-eligible consumers to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - S.658/H.R.5252, the EQIP Improvement Act, which would create severe consequences to the EQIP program for animal agriculture operations by targeting livestock operations conservation project funding. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - S.1842/H.R.6687, the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act, would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish a new category of animal food additives. - Informed PA House and Senate Members that Farm Bureau remains neutral on S.2631/H.R.3424, the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act, which would prevent the conversion of forests into non-forest areas by authorizing funding to purchase development rights from willing private landowners. - Monitored H.R.1624, the Puppy Protection Act, which would require USDA to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. OTHER: - Drafted letter to RMA asking for PA to have the opportunity for double crop soybean insurance. - Signed onto letter to USDA asking for an emergency authorization to return the higher of for Class I milk pricing.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.391/H.R.1018, the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act, which would prohibit the SEC from requiring ag producers to report their Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. The Protect Farmers from the SEC Act was introduced in response to the SEC's March 2022 proposed "The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors" rule (File #: S7-10-22), which would require farmers to report their scope 3 emissions to the SEC. Encouraged PFB members to complete AFBF's S.391/H.R.1018's advocacy email to send to their legislator asking them for support. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - - S.1016/H.R.1840, the Agriculture Resilience Act, which would aim to reduce agriculture emissions by 50% before 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. - EPA's proposed rule (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2019-0341) to designate PFOA and PFOS under the CERLA law or otherwise known as the Superfund law. ACTIVITIES RELATED TO SEC'S CLIMATE RELATED DISCLOSURES RULE: - Discussed consequences of Scope 3 being included in the SEC's proposed climate related disclosures rule with Senator Fetterman's banking and agriculture staff. Also, lobbied their office to get the Senator signed onto Senator Tester's (D-MI) addressing these concerns. - When final rule was published, Farm Bureau was successful in their advocacy efforts and the SEC excluded Scope 3 from the final rule. PFB published a news release thanking members and legislators for their efforts on the issue. OTHER: - General advocacy promoting farmers and ranchers' conservation efforts on ag operations as a way to express that more environmental regulations in production ag is not necessary. - Advocated PA House Members to sign onto letter to EPA Administrator Regan regarding concerns around the EPA's ESA strategies.
• General advocacy for transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, railroads, locks and dams, inland waterways, etc). Informed PA House and Senate Members of AFBF's opposition to EPA's proposed Vehicle Emission Standards (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0829).
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - H.R.4288, the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act, which would reaffirm and strengthen federal law to prevent the emergence of an inconsistent state or local pesticide labels. - S.1427, the Agriculture PFAs Liability Protection Act, which would exempt farming from any PFAS liability. - S.747/H.R.1517, the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act, which would authorize USDA to provide grants to state and territories to address PFAS contamination on farms. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - S.269/H.R.5085, the Protect Americas Children from Toxic Pesticides Act, which would modify provisions related to the registration, distribution, sale, and use of pesticides, including by cancelling the registration of organophosphates, neonicotinoids, and paraquat and by creating a process for interested individuals to submit a petition to designate an active ingredient or pesticide as a dangerous pesticide. - EPA's proposed rule (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OPP-2022-0133) to protect farm workers from pesticide exposure. OTHER: - Encouraged PFB members to complete AFBF's advocacy email to Congress raising concerns of the impacts of PFAS on farms. - Signed onto letter to House and Senate Approps leadership regarding FIFRA Labeling related to Interior Appropriations Sec. 461. - Signed onto letter to EPA addressing concerns over court's decision on dicamba products. - Signed onto letter to Approps leadership supporting several pesticide-related appropriations asks in the FY25 Interior approps bills. - Signed onto letter to EPA regarding existing stock order on OTT dicamba.
• Explained to Congressional Members that Farm Bureau is remaining neutral on the issue of foreign investment into agricultural land. Specifically, S.168/H.R.683, the Promoting Agriculture Safeguards and Security (PASS) Act, which would prohibit persons who are acting on behalf of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea from purchasing or investing in U.S. agricultural land and companies.
• General advocacy to reduce inflation and agricultural input costs, especially for small businesses and family farms.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: S.874/H.R.3308, the Farm Operations Support Act, which would freeze the 2023 AEWR until 2025 and revert it to January 2023 levels. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: DOL's March 2023 AEWR calculation/methodology rule (Docket #: ETA-2021-0006), which would increase H-2A employers' cost even more by changing the methodology for how the AEWR is calculated. OTHER: - Advocated to get PA House Members signed onto Representative Bill Huizenga's letter to Appropriations asking for a multi-year freeze of the AEWR. - Advocated to get PA Senate Members signed onto Senator Tuberville's letter asking to freeze the AEWR. - Advocated to get PA Senate Members signed onto Senator Crapo's letter asking to freeze the AEWR and to be an original co-sponsor of Senator Tillis' Supporting Farm Operations Act. - Had conversations with PA House and Senate Members over PFB's concerns with OSHA's advanced notice of proposed rulemaking regarding heat illness (Docket #:OSHA-2021-0009-0001). This would protect indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat, and obtain additional information about the extent and nature of hazardous heat in the workplace and the nature and effectiveness of interventions and controls used to prevent heat-related injury and illness. However, the provisions would be extremely difficult for agricultural employers to comply with because the temperature for when the proposed rule kicks in would be 85 degrees. Had conversations with PA House and Senate Members over PFB's concerns of DOL's Notice of Proposed Rule Making entitled Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States (Docket #: ETA-2023-0003). Had conversations with Chairman Thompson's staff about the goals of the House Ag Farm Labor Working Group.
• General advocacy opposing EPA's 2023 "Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States" - Conforming" (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OW-2023-0346). The Agencies did not take the opportunity after the Supreme Court decision to properly clarify vagueness in the rule. Expressed feasibility, testing compliancy, and research concerns of EPA's PFAS drinking water rule (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114) to House and Senate Members. Had discussions with PA Congressional Members on the proposed settlement for Chesapeake Bay Foundation's lawsuit against EPA for apparent PA pollution in the Bay. PFB's main message was that farmers are already implementing innovative conservation practices on their land via local conservation district funding.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which would address high energy costs by increasing the production of American energy and reducing regulatory burdens through comprehensive permitting reform.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - H.R.4708, the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act, which would codify visa interview waiver authority for H-2 workers and extend the validity of a companys visa petitions and labor certifications. - H.R.3516, the Farmworker Access and Waiver Act (FAWA), which would waive the interview requirement for returning H-2A visa workers who were previously approved. OTHER: Expressed to PA House and Senate Members concerns over DHS' Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to increase fees for H-2B and H-2A non-immigrant visa programs and institutes a $600 Asylum Program Fee on every petition (Docket #: USCIS 2021-0010). Informed PA House and Senate Members that Farm Bureau has concerns about mandatory e-verify in H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act, which is a large comprehensive immigration bill proposed by the House GOP.
• Had multiple discussions with PA House and Senate Members on East Palestine, OH train derailment and how to prevent future scenarios with the rails. Since it was so close to the PA border, some ag producers were affected by the derailment.
• General advocacy for lowering gas and diesel (on and off road) prices.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.1957/H.R.1147, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would permit schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. - H.R.5383, the Giving Increased Variety to Ensure Milk Into the Lives of Kids (GIVE MILK) Act by Representatives GT Thompson (R-PA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). This bill would allow participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program over the age of two to receive 2% reduced fat or whole milk. - S.549/H.R.1462, the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese To Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (DAIRY PRIDE) Act, which would prohibit the sale of any food that uses the market name of adairyproduct (such asmilk,yogurt, orcream cheese) unless the food (1) is the milk of a hooved animal, (2) is derived from such milk, or (3) contains such milk as a primary ingredient. Encouraged PFB members to complete PFB's S.549/H.R.1462's advocacy emails to their legislator asking them to co-sponsor. - S.3693/H.R.7130, the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act, which would ensure plant protein imitation meat/poultry and cell-cultured protein is accurately labeled. - S.3584/H.R.6945, the Consistent Egg Labels Act, which would create a standard of identity for eggs to ensure plant based eggs are accurately labeled. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - FDA's proposed draft guidance on labeling of plant-based milk alternatives (Docket #: FDA-2023-D-0451) - Certain proposals within Food and Nutrition Service's proposed new school nutrition guidelines (Docket #: FNS-2022-0043-0001).
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.1666/H.R.3419, the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which would increase funding to fight foreign animal disease and extend authorization for the Animal Health Protection Act through 2028. - S.3358/H.R.1437, the Black Vulture Relief Act, which would allow livestock producers to take black vultures without a permit if the bird is causing death or injury to their animals. - H.Res.588, which would express the sense of the House of Representatives that research and promotion boards (checkoffs) support efforts to develop new markets and strengthen existing markets for specific commodities while conducting important research and promotional activities via pooled resources and stakeholder investments. - S.2235/H.R.5096, the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act, which would make all poultry growers and layer operations within a HPAI control area eligible to receive payments from APHIS compensation program, rather than only flocks that test positive. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - S.907/H.R.2814, the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act, which would exempt from federal inspection requirements animals and meats that are slaughtered and prepared at custom animal slaughter facilities for distribution within the state. Under current law, a custom slaughter exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered exclusively for personal, household, guest, or employee uses. - S.993/H.R.1839, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - S.557/H.R.1249, the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act, which would establish restrictions and requirements for checkoff programs. These are programs overseen by USDA to promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers or brands. OTHER: Had conversations with PA House and Senate members over PFB's concerns over scheduling xylazine due to animal welfare concerns. Xylazine is a commonly used animal tranquilizer used in the veterinary field, but it is now being laced with fentanyl. While PFB understands the impact it is having on fatal drug overdoses, animals rely on the drug for life saving medical procedures. Therefore, not having readily available access poses a danger to the animal's life. - Informed Hill staffers that PFB is supportive of Rep. Clyde's letter to protect poultry farmers from unfair trade restrictions - namely from China - due to WOAHs outdated definition of poultry. - Participated in prop 12 roundtable led by Chairman "GT" Thompson with other House Members.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.1669/H.R.3413, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. - S.719/H.R.1495, the Precision Agriculture Loan (PAL) Act, which would offer low-cost and long-terms loans to agriculture producers who want to adopt precision agriculture technologies but cannot afford to through traditional financing. - S.720/H.R.1459, the Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment (PRECISE) Act, which would provide funding through existing USDA loan programs to help producers purchase precision agriculture equipment. OTHER: Advocated for Congressional Members to have close oversight of the funding in the allocations of the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Development Program. General lobbying of Congress to increase rural broadband connection and cell service.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - H.R.3580, the Restore the CSP Act, which would reauthorize the USDA-National Resource Conservation Services Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) back to 2014 Farm Bill funding levels by taking conservation dollars authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act and repurposing them to the 2023 Farm Bill baseline for CSP.
• Monitored fiscal year 2024 budget negotiations and appropriation bills (H.R.4366 and H.R.2882). Specifically paid close attention to H.R.4366, which was the minibus that included agriculture. This bill deals with funding levels for USDA, FDA, and impacts Farm Bureau members' operations. Advocated for Congress to pass a budget so that farm bill negotiations can start.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.1237/H.R.1250, the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which would restore the exemptions family farm and small business assets from the FAFSA calculation process in higher education. - S.3625/H.R.5119, the Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act, which would extend the deadline for companies to report certain beneficial ownership information to the Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). OTHER: - Signed onto letter to Senate Banking leadership asking to support S.3625, the Protect Small Business and Prevent Illicit Financial Activity Act.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.2019/H.R.4417, the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, which would prohibit other states and local units of government from regulating the preharvest production of agricultural products in other jurisdictions. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - California's Proposition 12. Discussed harmful impacts of prop 12 with PA House and Senate Members to work on legislative fix to prop 12. OTHER: Had conversations with PA House and Senate members over PFB's concerns with Canada not abiding by the USMCA dairy trade agreement and Mexico banning imports of U.S. bio-tech corn, which both dramatically impact trade exports.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.1706/H.R.4721, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which would make permanent the 20% deduction for small- and individually-owned businesses (Section 199A). - S.1108/H.R.7035, the Death Tax Repeal Act, which would Would repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. It also makes conforming amendments related to the gift tax. - H.R.4937, the Preserving Family Farms Act, which would modernize Section 2032A Special Use Valuation by increasing the amount of farmland that can be valued for farming operations rather than development value. - H.R.7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, which would extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Specifically, it would extend 100% bonus depreciation, retroactive to 2023, through the end of 2025 and raises the cap on Section 179 expensing.
• ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - H.R.4565, the All Children Are Equal (ACE) Act, would eliminate the number weighting system used to distribute Title I grants to ensure that school districts are treated equally based upon their percentages of poverty, rather than population. - H.R.(no bill #), the Growing Opportunities in Agriculture (GO Ag) Act, which would create a $5 million grant program within the Department of Education to help CTE schools cover the startup costs associated with agriculture education programs. - H.R.2728, the Young Farmer Success Act, which would make certain farmers and ranchers eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Duration: November 1, 2007 to present

General Issues: Agriculture, Environmental/Superfund, Transportation, Chemicals/Chemical Industry, Foreign Relations, Economics/Economic Development, Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace, Clean Air & Water (Quality), Energy/Nuclear, Immigration, Railroads, Fuel/Gas/Oil, Food Industry (Safety, Labeling, etc.), Animals, Telecommunications, Natural Resources, Budget/Appropriations, Small Business, Trade (Domestic & Foreign), Taxation/Internal Revenue Code, Education, Miscellaneous Tariff Bills, Health Issues, Government Issues, Science/Technology, Defense, Roads/Highway, Utilities, Insurance, Banking

Spending: about $1,285,422 (But it's complicated. Here's why.)

It can be tricky to figure out how much an organization spent on a particular lobbying engagement. The law only requires lobbyists to report the amount they were paid for federal lobbying each quarter rounded to the nearest $10,000—and if it's less than $3,000 in a given quarter (or less than $13,000 for organizations with in-house lobbyists), they don't have to disclose it at all. Plus, some organizations include spending that doesn’t belong in the report—for instance, money spent lobbying state governments or other legal work.

Agencies lobbied since 2007: House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Labor - Dept of (DOL), Homeland Security - Dept of (DHS), Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), White House Office, State - Dept of (DOS), Interior - Dept of (DOI), President of the U.S., Risk Management Agency, Food & Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Senate,, House of Representatives,, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), Risk Management Agency,, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA),, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Transportation - Dept of (DOT), Homeland Security - Dept of (DHS), Y Y