The California Poultry Federation Executive Committee (EC), Chairman Richie King, Vice Chairman Mike Leventini and Secretary Treasurer David Pitman, joined CPF President Bill Mattos and Washington, D.C. lobbyist Charles Hansen on their annual lobby trip to Washington D.C. this week. On Monday and Tuesday they visited with USDA executives including Dr. Daniel Engeljohn, Asst. Administrator, Office of Field Operations; Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Ed Avalos; APHIS Associate Administrator Kevin Shea; FSIS Administrator Al Almanza; Veterinary Services Dr. Lee Ann Thomas who works with the NPIP program; AMS executives Rex Barnes and Craig Morris. The EC also met with members of Congress Jared Huffman, Doug LaMalfa, Republican Whip Kevin McCarthy, Gloria Negrete-McLeon, Jim Costa, David Valadao, John Garamendi, Jeff Denham and Devin Nunes, along with the agricultural legislative assistants with Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. They discussed issues dealing with the Renewable Fuels Standards and the industry work to eliminate corn from the ethanol mandates, immigration reform and opening export markets.
Special thanks you’s were extended to Costa and Garamendi for sponsoring legislation to eliminate corn from the Renewable Fuels Mandate.
CPF Executive Committee Meets USDA leaders (from left): Bill Mattos (CPF), Richie King (Foster Farms), FSIS Administrator Al Almanza, Brian Ronholm, Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, Dr. Lee Ann Thomas, APHIS Veterinary Services (NPIP),Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Ed Avalos, APHIS Associate Administrator Kevin Shea, Mike Leventini (Petaluma Poultry Processors), and
David Pitman (Pitman Family Farms).