|
LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
| Address1 | 7373 West Saginaw Highway |
Address2 | P.O. Box 30960 |
| City | Lansing |
State | MI |
Zip Code | 48909 |
Country | USA |
3. Principal place of business (if different than line 2)
| City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
|
5. Senate ID# 40017133-48
|
||||||||
|
6. House ID# 398870000
|
||||||||
| TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2018 |
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 |
|
11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
| INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
| INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
| 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: John Kran |
Date | 1/22/2019 10:00:01 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 IMM
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) advocated for legislation that addresses agriculture's long and short-term labor needs. Immigration reform would include an adjustment of status for those currently undocumented that are working in agriculture, allowing them to work in agriculture, and secondly creases a usable guest worker program run by the USDA that allows for at-will or contract workers for agriculture. MFB opposes E-Verify legislation unless it moves in tandem with legislation addressing agriculture's labor needs. MFB also advocated for changes in the H-2A guest worker visa program that would make the system more efficient and streamlined and guaranteed workers arrived on time to perform job duties like planting or harvesting crops. MFB has advocated for the AG and Legal Workforce Act, H.R. 6417, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte. The bill would create a new H-2C guest worker visa for agriculture, that would provide up to a three year, renewable visa for both seasonal and year-round agriculture and ag processing jobs. Farm Bureau also advocated for a freeze on the Adverse Effect Wage Rate for H-2A works to stay at the 2018 levels. There was discussion of including this as an amendment during Senate Appropriations, but it was not ultimately included. The wage rate required for H-2A users has increased substantially over the past several years and Farm Bureau members do not believe it accurately reflects the job market. MFB also filed comments on two public dockets related to improving delivery of the H-2A visa program to farmers and supported in our member policy. Comments on proposed revisions to Form ETA-9142A and appendix, Form ETA-790/790A and addenda- dealt with simplifying the forms farmers fill out with Department of Labor and were submitted via email. The second comments were specific to the advertising requirement for domestic labor recruitment for the H-2A application process, docket No. ETA-2018-0002, and were submitted through the federal docket. Our comments reflected a need to advertise electronically, in addition to via newspapers to better target potential workers.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), Labor - Dept of (DOL)
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 |
John |
Kran |
|
|
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
Michigan Farm Bureau supports the new U.S. Mexico Canada (USMCA) agreement. While we supported NAFTA, the USMCA is an opportunity to modernize or improve some areas for agriculture, we also support that - including Sanitary/Phytosanitary requirements, biotechnology, and additional protections for fruit and vegetable growers. MFB also has advocated the importance of the trading relationship with China to the Administration and Congress and the $20 billion positive impact to the ag sector in 2017. We also communicated to USDA about a concern with competition our tart cherry industry is experiencing from the country of Turkey with no barriers to entry.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 |
John |
Kran |
|
|
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 AGR
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau communicated to both the U.S. House and Senate on the need to complete a 2018 Farm Bill before the current bill expires in October 2018. We support the following principles as a guide in writing the next Farm Bill: 1.) Protecting current Farm Bill program spending; 2.) Maintaining a unified farm bill which includes nutrition programs and farm programs together; 3.) Risk management tools which include both federal crop insurance and commodity programs as top funding priorities; 4.) Continuation of Price Loss Coverage (PLC) and Agricultural Risk Coverage (ARC) with changes to ARC-County to make it more effective and fairer to all farmers; 5.) Developing farm savings accounts as a risk management option for all producers; 6.) Changes to the Dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) to provide producers more flexibility and better coverage; 7.) Maintaining funding for federal conservation programs which maintain environmental benefits; 8.) Maintain adequate funding for the specialty crop industry with emphasis on fundamental research, marketing and promotions, and pest management programs. MFB supported H.R. 2, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 in the House, and H.R. 2, the Agriculture & Nutrition Act of 2018 in the Senate, and the Conference report.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA)
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 |
John |
Kran |
|
|
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 TAX
16. Specific lobbying issues
Michigan Farm Bureau supported H.R. 88, a bill which included several tax provisions supported in Farm Bureau member policy, including: 1.) Permanent extension of the short-line railroad track maintenance credit. 2.) Long-term extension of the biodiesel and renewable diesel through 2024. 3.) Additional two-year suspension of the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) for 2020 and 2021. 4.) Repeal of UBIT taxes on transportation fringe benefits of tax-exempt organizations.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
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 |
John |
Kran |
|
|
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 ENV
16. Specific lobbying issues
Met with EPA leadership to 1) request the agency re-review its 2016 determination finding that portions of Michigans 2013 water legislation did not meet Clean Water Act requirements, and 2) recommend changes to the Code of Federal Regulations on state assumption of Clean Water Act Section 404 programs, to help improve and streamline opportunities for additional states to assume delegated authority.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
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 |
John |
Kran |
|
|
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.
20. Client new address
| Address |
|
||||||
| City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
| City |
|
State |
|
Zip Code |
|
Country |
|
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
|
|
||||||||
| 1 |
|
3 |
|
||||||
| 2 |
|
4 |
|
ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
| Name | Address |
Principal Place of Business (city and state or country) |
||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
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:
| Name | Address |
Principal place of business (city and state or country) |
Amount of contribution for lobbying activities | Ownership percentage in client | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
|
% | |||||||||||||
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 |