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NCGA,
Agriculture Will Make Major Push for TPA This Year (8-30-01)
During
the current congressional recess, the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) has urged its members to talk to their elected officials to pass
Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). NCGA last week launched a direct mail
campaign targeting growers in selected congressional districts.
"The
campaign aims to educate growers on how expanded trade opportunities
can result in more profitability for corn producers," said Keira
Franz, NCGA director of public policy.
"The
message is simple: New markets for agricultural products deliver new
sources of revenue for farmers. And TPA is the mechanism that opens
new markets for U.S. agriculture
Growers
who farm in the targeted congressional districts will receive a letter
explaining what TPA is and why it's important to corn producers; a sample
letter to their congressional representative, which can be used "as
is" or as a reference for growers' customized letter; and an issue
brief on TPA.
NCGA
will soon release a series of briefing papers on TPA, which will be
posted on the NCGA website at http://www.ncga.com.
The papers will serve as an educational resource for growers, media
and other interested parties. In addition to providing information on
NCGA's position on TPA, these papers also will address the arguments
that have been made against TPA.
Earlier
this week, 10 former USDA secretaries signed a letter urging Congress
to pass Trade Promotion Authority this year. The letter was addressed
to current USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, a strong TPA supporter.
During
a subsequent radio broadcast, Veneman said, "I welcome the strong
bipartisanship support for trade from my predecessors, who represent
more than four decades of leadership at USDA and come from key agricultural
regions across the country,"
Veneman
added, "It clearly shows how important trade is to our farmers
and underscores the need to expand world markets for food and agricultural
products so our farmers can better compete in today's global marketplace."
The
administration is hoping to have a vote in the matter by late September.
"Regardless of when Congress addresses TPA, NCGA is doing the necessary
work now of preparing our grassroots activists for action whenever such
action is needed," Franz concluded.
More
information about NCGA's support of TPA is available on the NCGA web
site: http://www.ncga.com/trade/main/index.html.
Last
reviewed August 30, 2001
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