The Food Manufacturers Immigration Coalition, which includes NTF and the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) announced the formation of a coalition to promote immigration reform. In a letter to the senators, leading the immigration-reform effort (informally known as the “Gang of Eight”), the food manufacturers group and the UFCW outlined their goals for comprehensive immigration reform and thanked the senators for their leadership on this critical issue. The Senate Judiciary Committee began markup of S.744 this past Thursday. As debate on immigration legislation and proposals begin, NTF is positioned to be a strong voice for the turkey industry.

On May 8, both the full Senate and a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee advanced bills to renew the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). The full Senate on Wednesday passed its version of the legislation (S.622), while on the same day the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health approved its version of the bill (H.R. 1407).  Both measures reauthorize (through 2018) FDA’s power to collect application fees for brand name and generic animal drugs. This would mark the third extension of the bill. The House version may face some resistance this week when the full Energy and Commerce Committee considers it. Rep. Henry Waxman, the ranking committee Democrat, complained that the bill does not do enough to track the sales and use of animal antibiotics. NTF and its coalition partners are working to ensure no harmful amendments are attached to the bill.

The Committee on Environment and Public Works conducted a meeting to consider President Obama’s nominee for Administrator of the EPA, Gina McCarthy. Committee Republicans boycotted the meeting, and a request to delay the meeting was denied, effectively terminating the vote for now.

Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, testified before the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on USDA's Fiscal Year 2014 budget. NTF believes that the subcommittee will begin drafting its bill in the coming weeks.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued the final rule on “Recordkeeping for Approved Livestock Facilities and Slaughtering and Rendering Facilities”. The rule requires approved livestock facilities and listed slaughtering and rendering establishments to maintain certain records for poultry and swine for a period of at least two years and other records for cattle for a period of five years. In addition, the rule requires written agreement to these requirements. The final rule becomes effective on June 6.  A memo about the rule is available here.

Smarter Fuel Future (SFF), a coalition supported by NTF that fights for ethanol policy reform, launched new social media channels. For updates on the RFS and ethanol, and how it is affecting our industry, follow the SFF Twitter account at @SmarterFuels and “like” them at Facebook.com/SmarterFuelFuture.