WASHINGTON, D.C.-Potato growers and industry partners from across the country will travel to the nation's capital this month as part of the National Potato Council's (NPC) 2013 Potato D.C. Fly-In, Feb. 25-28 at the Madison Hotel. The annual event is open to all growers and industry partners eager to advance the potato industry's most pressing federal policy debates.
This year's Fly-In features advocacy and lobbying training sessions and concludes with face-to-face meetings with congressional lawmakers, key staff and federal regulators. Attendees will also hear from prominent political pundits, including renowned political strategist and commentator Donna Brazile, and former Republican Congressman Tom Davis from Virginia.
"The Potato Fly-In is very important. I think that the legislators in Congress want to hear from the growers, they want to hear from the people doing the work," commented Randy Mullen, NPC's President and owner of Mullen Farms, Inc., in Pasco, Wash. "I believe it's very important for them to hear from us."
During meetings with policy decision makers, growers will discuss key industry priorities, such as:
-Ensuring the continuation of long-term research and pest and disease funding levels in the 2013 Farm Bill;
-Shielding farms from burdensome environmental regulations;
-Fighting for fair estate and capital gains tax laws; and
-Improving immigration laws to allow farms to hire the workers they need when they need them.