The concerns of western irrigators will have its voice heard Sept 27-28 when a group of family farmers, ranchers and water professionals travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congress as part of the 2016 Family Farm Alliance Farmer Lobbyist trip.

“Our annual farmer lobbyist visit is intended to bring members of Congress, their staff members, and Administration appointees into direct contact with western producers and water managers,” said Alliance president Patrick O’Toole (Wyoming). “One important aspect of our farmer lobbyist trips is that it provides a means of keeping the Alliance visible in DC and in front of Congress and staff.”

The visit will also include meetings with key Obama Administration officials at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Interior and Agriculture departments, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

There are many things in play right now, involving several pieces of legislation the Alliance has helped craft and/or provided testimony on. There are several paths that western and California drought legislation could take in a session, either via appropriations bills, a drought package, or the energy bill.

“All these bills – which contain provisions that directly or indirectly impact Alliance members – are still in play, and they will either move or die a fast death after the fall election,” said Mark Limbaugh, the Alliance’s representative in Washington, D.C.

“Regardless of election-year politics, these trips promote the visibility for the organization on the Hill and with the agencies,” said Alliance executive director Dan Keppen (Oregon). “There are 68 days until Election Day and 26 days until the first presidential debate. The House and Senate are in summer recess until Sept. 6. The standoff over Zika funding is expected to resume when Congress reconvenes.”

Lawmakers will also have to pass a stopgap appropriations measure by September 30, in order to stave off a shutdown of the federal government. On Sept. 6, the Senate will resume consideration of the spending bill that includes $1.1 billion in funding.

The visit will also include meetings with key Obama Administration officials at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Interior and Agriculture Departments, and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Other topics of interest to western water users include:

• Sharing the Alliance Message

• Bipartisan Call for Support on WRDA

• Save the Date! 2017 Family Farm Alliance Annual Conference

• Australian Farmers Call for an End to Environmental Water Buybacks

• White House Releases New NEPA Guidance

• 11th Circuit Halts Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Rule Suits pending 6th Circuit Court Decision

The Family Farm Alliance is a grassroots organization of family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts and allied industries in 17 Western states. The Alliance is focused on one mission: To ensure the availability of reliable, affordable irrigation water supplies to Western farmers and ranchers. In the past decade, the Family Farm Alliance has been invited to testify over 50 times before Congress on water and environmental challenges and legislation.