The timing for the Senate’s Farm Bill proved ideal for nearly 30 members of the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) from across the country who flew to Washington D.C. last week to provide some “boots-on-the-ground” advocacy for the beef industry, according to a USCA news release. The gathering lasted through June 14 and 15. Attendees met with over 50 congressional offices and the Senate Agriculture Committee, and then they split to focus on three specific issue areas: marketing and competition, public lands and livestock hauling. These meetings included discussions with representatives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Department of Interior and Department of Transportation.
Congress has until Sept. 30 to pass the 2018 Farm Bill.
Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act enters Senate
The Modernizing Agricultural Transportation (MAT) Act was introduced to the Senate last week. The bill, sponsored by Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), proposes some reforms to the federal Hours of Service (HOS) rule and a delay to the electronic logging device (ELD) regulation enforcement deadline.
The bill would establish a working group at the Department of Transportation to identify obstacles to the safe, humane and market-efficient transport of livestock and, within one year of the group’s establishment, develop guidelines for regulatory or legislative action to improve the transportation of these commodities. The working group will be comprised of representatives from the transportation and agriculture industries, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is required to consider:
- The impact, incompatibilities and other challenges and concerns of existing HOS rules and ELD rules under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on the commercial transport of livestock, insects and agricultural commodities.
- Initiatives and regulatory changes that maintain and protect highway safety and allow for the safe, efficient and productive marketplace transport of livestock, insects and agricultural commodities.
- Other related issues that the Transportation Secretary considers appropriate.
The MAT Act is supported by several ag industry groups including the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, USCA, Livestock Marketing Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act enters House
The Transporting Livestock Across America Safely (TLAAS) Act was introduced to the House for consideration last week.
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) and 45 other bipartisan representatives sponsored the bipartisan bill, initially introduced to the Senate by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and 10 other senators.
“The House version of the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act is another important step toward fixing the current Hours of Service rules for livestock haulers,” said National Cattleman’s Beef Association president Kevin Kester. “The status quo presents major challenges for the beef industry and can often jeopardize the health and well-being of livestock.” 
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Carrie Veselka
- Associate Editor
- Progressive Cattleman
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