This afternoon, President Trump signed the omnibus spending bill, which includes several provisions that will directly benefit livestock producers. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Government Affairs Allison Cooke said the association has a lot of solid wins in this bill.
Major Victories for Cattle Producers in Signed Omnibus Bill
From NCBA
Cattlemen Applaud Final Approval of Omnibus Bill
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Kevin Kester issued the following statement in response to President Trump signing the omnibus spending bill, which includes several provisions that will directly benefit cattle producers:
“Thanks to our dues-paying NCBA members and the hard work of our team in Washington, this omnibus spending bill includes several provisions that represent major victories for America’s cattle producers.
“First, we were able to kill the notion that our farms and ranches will be regulated like toxic Superfund sites under the CERCLA law. Second, we were able to secure another delay of the Electronic Logging Device mandate for livestock haulers. And finally, we were able to get Congress to address the 199A tax issue.
“These are all provisions that will help producers, and I want to thank all of our allies on Capitol Hill who helped secure them in the final legislation.
“I also want to again thank all of our dues-paying members – without them these victories almost certainly wouldn’t have been possible.”
Background:
• CERCLA Reporting: A provision would relieve livestock producers of the emissions reporting requirements under CERCLA, protecting 200,000 farms and ranches around the country. NCBA has been urging affiliates and members to support stand-alone legislation in the House and Senate that would also exempt agricultural producers from CERCLA reporting requirements. Passage of the omnibus spending bill would achieve the same goal.
• Electronic Logging Devices: The bill includes a provision that would grant livestock haulers an exemption from ELDs until September 30, 2018. A further delay will provide the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) more time to educate our livestock haulers on the ELDs while industry works on solutions to the current Hours of Service rules that do not currently work for those truckers driving livestock across this great nation. Recent NCBA actions on this issue include:
- September 2017 – NCBA and allied groups petition Department of Transportation for ELD waiver.
- September 2017 – NCBA and affiliates ask Congress to support one-year delay of ELD implementation for livestock haulers.
- November 2017 – NCBA helps secure 90-day waiver from ELD implementation
- March 2018 – NCBA and allied groups successfully petition for another 90-day wavier from ELD implementation.
• Section 199A Fix: The 199A fix included in the bill will equalize tax treatment of commodity sales to cooperatives and non-cooperatives, while also providing flow-through deduction from co-ops to their members similar to the old Section 199 deduction for domestic production activities.