Capital Press: New Congress will shift ag priorities

The power shift in Congress will rearrange the chairs of key committees and change the legislative goals for farm groups.

Gone, at least for the foreseeable future, is any momentum to reform the Endangered Species Act, but farmers expect to find a sympathetic ear on Capitol Hill for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a guestworker program.

Among the 17 changes in committee chairs in the House of Representatives is Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., who replaces Jim Sensenbrenner as the probable new chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Sensenbrenner was instrumental in the enforcement-focused immigration bill that passed the House this year to the disappointment of farm groups like the California Farm Bureau, Nisei Farmers League and Western Growers.

With Conyers as chairman-to-be, prospects have changed to spur House to act favorably on the AgJobs bill that passed the Senate.

"Clearly the need is there and Senator (Dianne) Feinstein was big mover on AgJobs and with President Bush's support of comprehensive reform, I think we will see a real push to get a program passed in the new Congress," said Jack King, manager of national affairs for the California Farm Bureau.

Sharon Hughes, executive vice president of the National Council of Agricultural Employers, said it is possible action on AgJobs could come in the lame duck session.

"We view this as a great opportunity to finally get final enactment of legislation to help agriculture. The Senate is ready to go and to do everything in the lame-duck. The president is willing to do everything in the lame-duck session. It just up to the House leadership to get it done," Hughes said. "What we need is for all of the growers to contact their members of the House to urge their leaders to get this done. We have to have this. There have been major labor shortages across the country."

The Farm Bureau's Jack King said the Democratic takeover will mean new priorities in how the 2007 Farm Bill is shaped and how the House addresses public lands and water issues.

The chairs of 17 House committees will change, including the House Resources Committee, which Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, had chaired. Pombo was the only one of 19 Republican committee chairmen in the House to lose re-election. Replacing Pombo as the likely head of the Resources Committee is Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia, who voted against Pombo's ESA legislation.

"Losing Richard is a big loss, not just for his leadership on ESA reform. He was active on property rights issues, but he was a key player on farm bill, water issues and he leaves a big void for California agriculture," King said. "I think we are going to see a much more environmental focus in the new Congress and it will mean that we will have to look to Dennis Cardoza, Jim Costa and others for leadership on key issues."

King agreed that any momentum on reforming ESA is gone.

"Richard Pombo led the charge on reforming the act," King said. "There is no tipping point now on ESA and I don't think we are going to see any effort to touch that issue for a while."

Pombo's loss could mean a delay in moving legislation that is needed to implement the historic San Joaquin River restoration plan, a multi-million-dollar effort to return salmon to the river.

Ronald Jacobsma, general manager of Friant Water Users Authority, said it may be tough in the lame duck session to move the funding which is needed to settle a lawsuit.

"This was kind of the 'Johnny-come-lately-bill' in a way, trying to make it a priority and getting it through a pretty limited window of opportunity, we knew was going to be tough," Jacobsma said. "Now with the change in majority, it has probably made it tougher. We are optimistic that the change in the makeup of the houses won't work against ultimate passage of this legislation, but because of that change, it may affect the timing."

Jacobsma has not lost hope that with bipartisan support of the legislation, which has not yet been introduced, lawmakers "may be willing to act on it to clear their plate and start afresh in January. If not, we'll continue to move forward in the next session."

Another legislative priority for the 110th Congress is writing a new farm bill. Key players in the farm bill debate will be Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who is expected to ascend to chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., as new chairman of the House Agriculture Committee.

King said Harkin is expected to push for greater federal commitment to the conservation title of the 2007 Farm Bill. Farm groups believe the power shift in the committee will mean greater emphasis on traditional crop support programs.

Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau, said immigration reform and farm bill are among a menu of work for his organization in 2007.

"AFBF will continue to lead the charge for maintaining the basic structure and foundation of the current farm program. We also believe there are renewed opportunities to pursue comprehensive immigration reform, including U.S. agriculture's need for an adequate legal workforce," Stallman said a statement.

Stallman said his organization looks forward to a positive relationship with Rep. Peterson. Peterson had supported a simple extension of the farm bill but he is expected to change his approach now that he is chair-to-be. The current farm bill expires at the end of 2007.

California's two senators will get committee chairs when the 110th Congress is sworn in Jan. 3, 2007. Sen. Barbara Boxer is the likely new chair of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein is expected to replace Sen. Trent Lott as head of the Senate Rules Committee.

Committee chairs

With a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, committee leadership will change.

Here are some of the other changes in House committees that have influence policy issues important to agriculture:

Appropriations: Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., replaces Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif.

Energy and Commerce: Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., replaces Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas.

Rules: Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., replaces Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif.

Ways and Means: Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., replaces Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., who is retiring.

Here are some of the other changes in Senate committees that have influence policy issues important to agriculture:

Appropriations: Robert Byrd, W. Va., replaces Thad Cochran, Miss.

Commerce: Daniel Inouye, Hawaii, replaces Ted Stevens, Alaska.

Energy and Natural Resources: Jeff Bingaman, N.M., replaces Pete Domenici, NM.

Judiciary: Patrick Leahy, Vt., replaces Arlen Specter, Pa.

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New Congress will shift ag priorities

San Joaquin River restoration, ESA reform expected to move to back burner