Results

Since the firm's formation in 1985, Lesher, Russell & Barron, Inc. has worked on hundreds of government relations issues including legislation, both appropriations and authorizations, as well as regulatory issues across the spectrum of the federal government. Below is a small sampling of government relations issues we have worked on. For more information on issues that may be of interest to you, please contact us at GR@lrbdc.com

Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL)

Issue

The 2002 Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (Farm Bill) contained a mandate that by September 30, 2004 certain commodities including beef, pork, fruits and vegetables, peanuts and fish sold at retail (excluding food service establishments) must carry a label providing consumers with the country-of-origin information. To comply with existing law, this mandate included a needlessly burdensome audit verification system that would have imposed hundreds of millions of dollars of compliance costs in the form of onerous recordkeeping, an overwhelming paper trail and the threat of large fines.

Outcome

Through annual agriculture appropriations legislation a coalition of affected industries accomplished a four-year implementation delay of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling to amend the audit verification system saving these industries and their consumers millions of dollars in needless compliance costs.

National Institute for Food and Agriculture

Issue

Our nation was born from agrarian roots, which explains why the oldest federal research agency centers on agricultural research. For the past thirty years the federal investment in agricultural research has been staggering at an average growth rate of only one percent. Some of today's great challenges including improved nutrition, protecting the environment and developing renewable energy can be met by agriculture but only if our nation is willing to make the investment. Right now the National Institutes of Health (NIH) invests $15 for every $1 invested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for research and development. For competitively awarded, peer-reviewed grants--- which attract the best science and the best scientists--- NIH outspends USDA 150 to 1. If this disparity continues, America’s farmers will lose their competitive advantage in the global marketplace. Moreover, American consumers will lose the promise of healthier foods, renewable fuels and a sustainable environment. Further, the costs of production will continue to rise, our natural resources will suffer and future farm program spending will escalate.

Outcome

Based on recommendations made by the 2004 U.S.D.A. Task Force on Research, Education and Economics, the National Institute for Food and Agriculture Act was introduced by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin and House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson to establish a national institute focused on fundamental agricultural research modeled largely after the success of the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. Significant pieces of this legislation are included in the 2008 Farm Bill.

Conrail

Issue

In 1999 the Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) was divided between Norfolk Southern Corporation and CSX Transportation after these two Eastern rail competitors engaged in an aggressive takeover of the Conrail assets. Under the final agreement approved by the Surface Transportation Board, Norfolk Southern received 58% of the benefits and CSX received 42%.

Outcome

The acquisition of Conrail assets was ultimately approved after significant interest group outreach and in-depth economic analysis of the enhanced rail service ensured by this transaction. This helped improve rail service and competitive rates for the Eastern seaboard.

Futures Modernization

Issue

Single Stock Futures are securities that share the features of equities and of traditional futures contracts. Because of legislative ambiguity and bureaucratic struggles between the Securities and Exchange Commission with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission single stock futures and other market indices were prohibited from trading on futures exchanges.

Outcome

After intense lobbying of Congress, the Commodity Futures Modernization Act was passed into law in 2000 spurring exchange trade of securities futures on OneChicago. Enactment of the Commodity Futures Modernization Act has also ignited explosive growth in exchange trade volumes. Globally futures and options volume jumped 26% alone in 2007.

National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs

Issue

With constant media attention on the problem of obesity and related health problems, a top consumer priority is a preference to and a desire for a greater variety of health premium products. Nutritional science continues to point to increased consumption of whole grain products as one step toward improved health and wellness. Incorporating whole grain products into federal food assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children is a priority for federal policymakers.

Outcome

The 2004 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act included provisions emphasizing the importance and established priorities for including whole grain products in the National School Lunch Program. More recently, the Interim Final Rule updating the WIC Food Package reflects new additions of whole grain foods into the WIC program.

Fresh Pizza

Issue

Based on federal meat inspection laws written over eighty years before, only frozen meat topped pizzas were permitted for sale in the National School Lunch Program. Using federal law, the frozen pizza industry was able to lock out competition and monopolize this growing market power.

Outcome

After years of impasse and in the face of intense lobbying pressure by the frozen food industry and frozen pizza companies, the federal meat inspection laws were amended to permit the sale of fresh meat topped pizza in the National School Lunch Program.