To Members of the NASULGC System:

The Senate this afternoon broke a Democratic filibuster and voted 65-28 to pass the omnibus spending bill for F.Y. 2004, including the long-stalled Agriculture Appropriations bill.

The legislation also postpones for two years a requirement that meat and many other foods sold in stores have labels identifying their "country of origin." With last month's discovery that a Washington state cow had BSE, many Democrats hoped they had gained leverage that would let them remove the labeling delay, but the White House and House GOP leaders refused to budge.

As you know, the House gave its approval to the omnibus appropriations measure last December. Thus, the bill will be enrolled and sent to President Bush, who is expected to sign it shortly.

The BRT is actively working with our congressional champions to identify the earliest possible opportunity for us to attack the 10% cuts that were made to 33 line items within CSREES. As that effort moves forward, and the president's F.Y. 2005 budget is released, we will be back in touch.

Larry LaRocco
Fleishman-Hillard Government Relations