What happened: NPPC held its spring Legislative Action Conference, with more than 100 pork producers from 23 states in Washington, D.C., to lobby their congressional members on issues of importance to the U.S. pork industry, primarily California Proposition 12.
Before meeting with their lawmakers, producers heard a panel discussion on the 119th Congress, policy priorities, and the upcoming midterm elections from Kirsten Chadwick, a partner with Fierce Government Relations, and Anne MacMillan, chief strategy officer with public affairs firm Invariant. The talk was moderated by NPPC Vice President of Government Affairs Maria C. Zieba.
During their Capitol Hill visits, producers urged lawmakers to take action on the following issues:
- Farm Bill 2.0 – Quickly approve a new farm bill that includes a provision that fixes the problems caused by Prop. 12.
- United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement – Urge the Trump administration to maintain market access for U.S. pork during the mandatory USMCA review in July.
- U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan – Support funding and establish a federal advisory committee for the US SHIP, which helps enhance biosecurity, advance animal traceability, and improve disease surveillance.
- Farm workforce – Expand the H-2A visa program to allow year-round agricultural workers as a way to address a farm labor shortage.
Why it matters: NPPC’s biannual legislative fly-in is an important opportunity for its pork producer members to help advance various issues of importance to the U.S. pork industry and for policymakers to learn about the many benefits the industry provides in their districts, states, and throughout the country.
