Colorado a Disaster Area
President Obama today announced Colorado was officially a disaster area because of ongoing wildfires and fire threats. The move will open up assistance from FEMA and other federal agencies to help fight fires, and assist the victims. Colorado officials including Gov. Hickenlooper, and all of Colorado’s nine Congressional members, pushed for the formal declaration over the past week. They...
Read MoreAppeals Court Upholds GHG Rules
On Tuesday, the federal Circuit Court for the District of Columbia upheld greenhouse gas rules promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The American Farm Bureau Federation was a party in the cases on this, which were consolidated in the D.C. Circuit Court. The decision is seen as a blow to the coal industry and a win for environmental activists. The decision preserves the status quo...
Read MoreFarm Bill in the House
On Tuesday, the House Agriculture Committee sent an announcement to agriculture groups regarding consideration of the farm bill. According to the committee, H.R. 5972, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act will be considered this week and H.R. 5973, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies...
Read MoreColorado on Fire
Colorado is on fire with several fires burning across the state. On Tuesday the Last Chance fire burned more than 45,000 acres of grassland, farmland, ranchland and several buildings, making it the second largest fire in Colorado so far this summer. Only the High Park fire by Fort Collins has swallowed more acreage. On Wednesday the Waldo Canyon Fire continued to expand, destroying more homes,...
Read MorePressure on Mexico to Allow Colorado Spuds
Gov. John Hickenlooper joined a handful of elected officials in calling onU.S. officials to pressure Mexico to increase market access for American fresh potatoes. Hickenlooper sent letters to President Barack Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, asking that the issue of Mexico’s inclusion in the Trans Pacific Partnership be a focus in July discussions. Currently, despite a 2003...
Read MoreLegislative Tracking 2013
