October 16, 2000

The third week-long continuing resolution has been approved by Congress. The House returns to work Tuesday afternoon with the Senate expected to vote on the agricultural appropriations bill Wednesday morning. Of the 13 appropriations bills that make up the federal budget, three have been signed by President Clinton, several others are ready for his signature and a few are stalled over policy disputes.

In an eleventh-hour attempt to get tax relief for farmers approved before final adjournment, several agricultural organizations contacted Republican and Democratic congressional leaders urging them to include farm-friendly tax legislation in any last minute tax reform measures.

A measure that would have effectively blocked Argentina from shipping lemons to the United States was dropped by conferees from the agriculture funding bill. A coalition of farm and livestock organizations argued that the provision ran counter to U.S. efforts to break down arbitrary trade barriers erected against American producers. The National Pork Producers Council said it would jeopardize the chances for approval of U.S. pork exports to Argentina. The amendment was added to the bill July 20 by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on behalf of a group of California citrus growers.