Veneman in Chicago Monday

May 7, 2001

Secretary Veneman's trip to Chicago today is billed as a showcase for USDA's "Beagle Brigade," whose mission has perhaps seemed a little more important with the emergence of Europe's foot-and-mouth disease crisis. The dogs, stationed at U.S. ports of entry, are to highlight a showcase of "USDA's disease exclusion activities at international ports of entry," a department press release said.

The timing and locale of the visit, though, will naturally cause some to wonder whether this may be the occasion for an Administration announcement on the fate of California's request for a waiver from reformulated gasoline (RFG) rules. If so, making the announcement in Illinois – corn country and ethanol country – would fit with the common view that the Bush Administration will turn down the request.

In fact, the headline of USDA's news release detailing Veneman's itinerary says her trip will highlight "energy, trade, and foot-and-mouth disease prevention." The text of the release, though, says nothing further about energy. Still, a mid-morning speech to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture does stand out as a possible venue for an announcement, if one is waiting to be made.