ASA’s ninth Annual Legislative Forum, scheduled for July 9 in Washington, DC , will focus on EPA decisions on the RFS and new water rules, as well as GMO labeling, nutrition and transportation issues.

Dr. Michael Jacobson, Executive Director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, will be interviewed by Sara Wyant, Editor/Publisher of Agri-Pulse on the FDA’s proposal to revoke the Generally Regarded As Safe (GRAS) status for partially hydrogenated oils and biotech issues. Richard Green, Senior Deputy Assistant to the Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Food Security will speak about the relationship between agricultural development and nutrition under USAID’s “Feed the Future” initiative.

In addition to these two speakers, the Legislative Forum will feature a Transportation Panel focusing on waterways, rail and weight limits. The panel will be moderated by Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director of the Soy Transportation Coalition, and the panel will include Mike Toohey, President and CEO of the Waterways Council, Jon Runyan, President of the Coalition for Transportation and John Miller, Vice President of Ag Products for BNSF has been invited to participate.

ASA has also invited EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to speak about EPA regulations impacting agriculture, Representative Mike Pompeo (R-KS) to speak about GMO labeling legislation and Representative Bill Shuster (R-PA), Chair of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to address transportation issues.

The ASA Legislative Education and Issues Forum is a one-day program, in conjunction with the ASA Board Meeting, in Washington, DC. The purpose of the Legislative Education and Issues Forum is to educate emerging leaders who are interested in learning about the role of the federal government and how U.S. agriculture policy is developed. The forum also includes a special two-hour Grassroots 101-program on Tuesday, July 8. This program is for growers and state staff who are making their first visit to Washington, D.C. or participants who want to refresh their skills for making the most of their Capitol Hill visits. After the training, refreshments will be offered to give people an opportunity to network and learn more about the issues.

On Thursday, July 10 attendees will join ASA directors to make Congressional visits to their representatives and senators. After their visits, attendees are invited to attend ASA’s Congressional Reception on Capitol Hill co-sponsored by the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA).

Select candidates from the 2013 ASA/DuPont Young Leader Class will also have the opportunity to participate in the Legislative Forum as part of their leadership development this year. For more information about the ASA Legislative Forum, please contact Byron Keelin at 314-754-1355 or bkeelin@soy.org.