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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 1320 Capitol Street, NE |
Address2 | Suit 200 |
City | Salem |
State | OR |
Zip Code | 97301 |
Country | USA |
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5. Senate ID# 400263203-12
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6. House ID# 400040000
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2019 |
Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date |
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11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
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12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
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Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
Signature | Digitally Signed By: Gail Greenman |
Date | 1/15/2020 11:17:00 AM |
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code AGR
16. Specific lobbying issues
HEMP
Asked EPA to study crop protection for hemp producers. Currently, there are limited crop protection tools labeled for hemp since hemp production became legal. EPA is seeking comments on the ten pesticide applications it has received for use on hemp. Comments are due on September 23, 2019. AFBF will submit comments and make them available on the Feed prior to the deadline.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gail |
Greenman |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TRD
16. Specific lobbying issues
Advocated for the passage of USMCA. The trade agreement will:
Designed to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, the USMCA builds on important trade relationships in North America.
The agreement is expected to increase U.S. ag exports by $2 billion and result in a $65 billion increase in gross domestic product.
The agreement will provide new market access for American dairy and poultry products while preserving the zero-tariff platform on all other ag products.
In particular, the agreement gives U.S. dairy products access to an additional 3.6% of Canadas dairy market - even better than what was proposed in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
U.S. wheat will be treated more fairly, thanks to Canadas agreement to grade our wheat no less favorably than its own.
Mexico and the United States have also agreed that all grading standards for ag products will be non-discriminatory.
Additional provisions enhance science-based trading standards among the three nations as the basis for sanitary and phytosanitary measures for ag products, as well as progress in the area of geographic indications.
The agreement also includes measures that address cooperation, information sharing and other trade rules among the three nations related to agricultural biotechnology and gene editing.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gail |
Greenman |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code TRA
16. Specific lobbying issues
Hours of Service Rulemaking
First adopted in 1937, FMCSAs hours of service rules specify the permitted operating hours of commercial drivers. In 2018, FMCSA released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to receive public comment on portions of the HOS rules.
FMCSAs proposed rule on hours of service offers five revisions to the existing HOS rules:
The Agency proposes to increase safety and flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by tying the break requirement to eight hours of driving time without interruption for at least 30 minutes and allowing the break to be satisfied by a driver using on duty, not driving status, rather than off duty. (Livestock Haulers are exempt from the 30-minute rest break requirement.)
The Agency proposes to modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10 hours off duty into two periods: one period of at least seven consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and the other period of not less than two consecutive hours, either off duty or in the sleeper berth. Neither period would count against the drivers 14-hour driving window.
The Agency proposes to allow one off-duty break of at least 30 minutes, but not more than three hours, that would pause a truck drivers 14-hour driving window, provided the driver takes 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of the work shift.
The Agency proposes to modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by two hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted.
The Agency proposes a change to the short-haul exception available to certain commercial drivers by lengthening the drivers maximum on‑duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles.
Agricultural Commodity Definitions Rulemaking
Currently, during harvesting and planting seasons as determined by each state, drivers transporting agricultural commodities, including livestock, are exempt from the HOS requirements from the source of the commodities to a location within a 150-air-mile radius from the source. The advanced rule (ANPRM) by FMCSA was prompted by indications that the current definition of these terms may not be understood or enforced consistently when determining whether the HOS exemption applies.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gail |
Greenman |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code LBR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee, has introduced legislation to provide legalization and a path to citizenship for agricultural workers, their spouses and children. AFBF has released a statement on H.R. 641, which was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
On January 17, 2019, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee introduced legislation providing a path to legalization and citizenship for agricultural workers. A copy of the bill, numbered H.R. 641, is attached. The draft proposal would provide legal status to agricultural workers, their spouses and children and also a path to citizenship. Rep. Lofgrens staff has indicated that they will shortly engage in discussions on potential guest worker provisions, either based on the current H-2A program or some other proposal.
Policy Progress
H-2A regulatory changes have been proposed and more are expected.
We are working to unify agricultural associations behind one approach that includes meaningful reforms to guest worker programs and addresses current workforce issues.
AFBF expressed willingness to work with Rep. Zoe Lofgren and other members of Congress to provide a path to legalization for our workers and develop a guest worker program that meets the needs of growers in all sectors of agriculture.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren is working with a core group of Republicans, Reps. Newhouse, Simpson, Yoho, and Diaz-Balart, on a bipartisan piece of legislation to be marked up in late-May or early-June and brought to the House floor in July.
Whats Next?
Pursue further H-2A regulatory reform
Legislative activity expected in the next 3 months-Mark-up in the House Judiciary Committee by June and vote on House floor by end of July.
Develop legislation to counter Rep. Lofgrens bill if her legislation does not provide enough H-2A reforms.
Continue conversations in the Senate.
Build on progress made during 115th Congress in support of provisions like those included in H.R. 6417, the AG and Legal Workforce Act
H2A
Supported congressional effort asking DOL for a one-year delay in the Departments new interpretation of the definition of agriculture as it relates to H-2A applications for agricultural truck drivers provided to farmers by farm labor contractors.
Many fruit and vegetable, sugarcane, and cotton producers have contracted with H-2A farm labor contractors for years to navigate through the complex H-2A application process to source workers for unfilled seasonal job positions. Recently, some applications sent in from companies contracted by farmers for H-2A agricultural truck drivers have been denied. These drivers are responsible for transporting perishable commodities from the field to the packing or processing facility.
In these instances, the Department of Labor said the work described did not fall under the agricultural labor or services required for eligibility in the H-2A program. These denials indicate a change in DOLs interpretation of the program; that interpretation apparently has taken place without warning, and now many farmers do not have enough time to make other labor arrangements.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Gail |
Greenman |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
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ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
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26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
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Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
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28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
1 | 3 | 5 |
2 | 4 | 6 |
CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE
29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery,
extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
Lobbyist Name | Description of Offense(s) |