Congress in Recess; Corn Growers in Overdrive

July 3, 2001

With Congress out of town this week for the July 4th recess, corn growers are being urged to "rise to the challenge of the busiest - and most portentous - legislative agenda they may ever face." The National Corn Growers Association says for the next three weeks beginning July 9, Congress and the Bush administration have scheduled an aggressive agenda that includes several issues that will affect the future of corn growers.

NCGA is pushing hard to incorporate a renewable fuels provision in the administration's energy plan. The House is scheduled to mark up the first round of an energy bill around July 12. Also, major activity is expected this month on the farm bill.

Last week, the House passed emergency economic aid for the current fiscal year. When Congress reconvenes on July 9, NCGA expects the House Agriculture Committee to make considerable progress on both the commodity and conservation titles of the next farm bill

The administration has demonstrated its "hard-charging support for seeking presidential trade promotion authority (TPA)," according to the NCGA. The agriculture community has already participated in pro-TPA events sponsored by the White House and congressional leaders. These events are a prelude to a major House vote on trade promotion authority during July.