Is Your Government Relations Team #SmartWorking?

April 14, 2020Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, COVID-19, Defense, Drinking Water, Energy, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Industry News, Infrastructure, Leaner Govt Relations, Press, Rural Dev., Trade, Transportationgovernment relations, K-Street, Lobbying, SmartWorking

There’s been a huge swell in lobbying activities in Washington during the COVID-19 pandemic as Congress swiftly enacts policies to help those impacted. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic typically alter the course for many sectors toward technologies and different methods they should have been using all along. So, it begs the question why are some government relations firms charging their clients $40,000, $50,000 and $80,000 per quarter? It’s outrageous. #Smartworking government relations firms will never cost that much.

COVID-19: U.S. Stimulus Package #3

April 1, 2020Tim CanslerAgriculture, Budget & Appropriations, COVID-19, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Carecoronavirus, COVID, Stimulus

On March 27, 2020 President Trump signed into law one of the largest stimulus packages in American history in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the 3rd stimulus package passed by Congress that is meant to address the needs of the health-care community and the economic downturn caused by the global pandemic. The Coronavirus…

U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee Takes up Challenges in Global Food Supply Chain

November 15, 2019Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Cansler News, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Trade, TransportationAgriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, CA Dept of Food & Ag, California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association, food, Food Safety, Food Safety Modernization Act, phytosanitary, Specialty Crops, trade, Transportation, U.S. Department of Agriculture

On November 14, the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture addressed the issue of invasive species and their impacts on the U.S. food supply chain. In his opening statement to begin the hearing Chairman of the Subcommittee, Jim Costa (D-CA) pointed out, “Along our southern border and in seaports across the country…

White House and Congressional Leaders Reach Deal on FY 2020 & 2021 Budget

July 22, 2019Tim CanslerAgriculture, Budget & Appropriations, Defense, Drinking Water, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, InfrastructureAgriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Appropriations Committee, Drinking Water, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, House Appropriations, SNAP, Specialty Crops, The Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture

On August 2, President Trump signed into law a two-year federal budget deal totaling $2.7 trillion. Background The White House and congressional leaders announced on July 22 that a comprehensive deal had been worked out on the top line spending numbers for the U.S. discretionary budget for fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Pressure had been…

As Senate Republicans Huddle, House Democrats Move Forward on FY 2020 Discretionary Spending Bills

June 11, 2019Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Defense, Energy, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Industry News, Infrastructure, Leaner Govt Relations, Press, Rural Dev., TransportationAgriculture, Appropriations Committee, budget House of Representatives, Democrats, Drinking Water, Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Energy & Commerce, Environmental Protection Agency, federal budget, federal programs, House Appropriations, infrastructure, international trade, National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, Republicans, The Food and Drug Administration, trade, Transportation, U.S. Senate Budget Committee, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act

House Maintains Modest Increases in all 12 Appropriations Bills Above FY 2019 Levels On June 11 officials from the White House & Office of Management and Budget will meet with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) & Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) to chart a path forward on the FY 2020 appropriations bills that…

What Can Possibly Be Accomplished During 2018 Lame Duck Session of Congress?

October 28, 2018Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Defense, Energy, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Industry News, Infrastructure, Press, Rural Dev., Transportation, Uncategorized

Congress left many issues undone for the 16-days scheduled in the legislative calendar after the 2018 midterm elections, known as the lame duck session of Congress. Below are some of those remaining issues. FY 2019 Appropriations Bill Congress enacted 5 (of the total 12) annual FY 2019 appropriations bills prior to the beginning of the…

Federal Budget Changes Coming. Is Your Organization Ready?

August 26, 2018Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Defense, Energy, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Infrastructure, Leaner Govt Relations, Press, Rural Dev., Transportation

No matter the outcome of the upcoming mid-term elections there is an important policy issue that will take center stage early in the coming 116th Congress. Its an issue that everyone knows Congress must begin to address and its an issue that could impact everyone’s favorite federal program — the federal debt and growing federal…

FDA Animal Drugs/Feeds Programs User Fee Reauthorization

October 15, 2017Tim CanslerAgriculture, Budget & Appropriations, Food Safety, Govt News

In 1968 amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act established the Animal Drugs and Feeds Program in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The new law extended authorities to FDA to regulate animal drugs, devices, and feed. Animal Drugs and Feed Regulated Under 21 Different Laws Today, the animal drug and feed industries are regulated under…

Cansler Keynotes Annual Conference for Tennessee Farm Bureau Presidents

August 11, 2017Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Budget & Appropriations, Cansler News, Energy, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News, Health Care, Industry News, Leaner Govt Relations, Press, Rural Dev., Transportation, Uncategorized

“Tim Cansler’s behind the scenes Washington knowledge on agricultural and farm issues makes him an excellent choice for hearing the “rest of the story” about current Washington happenings. His agricultural and Farm Bureau background provide a solid foundation and understanding of the issues important to farmers.” Jeff Aiken President Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation Cansler Consulting,…

Food Labeling and Whom it Impacts Most

January 31, 2017Tim CanslerAgriculture, Budget & Appropriations, Farm Bill, Food Safety, Govt News

In response to agency regulations and laws enacted last year food & beverage companies are preparing to spend billions of dollars to change their food labels for nutrition and the presence of bioengineered material. Previous food labeling policy discussions centered on country-of-origin labeling, organic labeling and menu labeling. More recently, policy discussions have begun on how…

More Proof of U.S. Safe Food Supply

December 22, 2016Tim CanslerFood Safety, Govt News(DPR), Agriculture, CA Dept of Food & Ag, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California's Department of Pesticide Regulation, County Agricultural Commissioner, Food Safety, Lobbyist, Washington, Washington DC

California Fruits & Vegetables

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture producers in California raise over 400 commodities, supplying over one-third of the U.S.’ vegetables and two-thirds of the fruits and nuts. These commodities are among the top ten valued crops in California and include (2015):…

Lobbying: Drinking Water Challenge pt.2

September 2, 2016Tim CanslerFood Safety, Govt NewsCansler Consulting, Congress, Drinking Water, EPA, Food Safety, Lobbying, Lobbyist, safety, USDA, Washington, Washington DC

Cansler Consulting is staying on top of the drinking water infrastructure challenges faced by our country and how the the government is responding to it now and in the future.
Side view of a woman drinking water in kitchen

The next EPA assessment should be released in 2017.

If history of the previous EPA assessments continue to repeat, there will likely be significant changes in some states’ needs in the new EPA assessment in 2017. These changes will result in adjustments to individual states’ DWSRF financial allotments. Most shifts in states’ needs can be attributed to expected changes in the status of projects from one survey to the next.…

Lobbying: Drinking Water Challenge pt.1

August 10, 2016Tim CanslerFood Safety, Govt NewsCongress, Drinking Water, EPA, Food Safety, infrastructure, Lobbying, Lobbyist, reform, Washington, Washington DC

Lobbying for drinking water infrastructure improvement

The exterior of the Flint Water Plant in Michigan. Flint is in the spotlight as concerns over it’s water quality and lead content have made national headlines.

Funding for Drinking Water Will Remain A Challenge to 2037 & Beyond

The drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan heightened the public’s attention across the U.S. about the issue of the deteriorating decades-old drinking water infrastructure. Along with the rest of America, Cansler Consulting watched as the crisis unfolded. Members of Congress, state and federal regulatory officials conducted multiple hearings and site visits to learn more about these challenges occurring in multiple municipalities throughout the U.S. What they learned is, without future federal budget pressures, drinking water infrastructure issues are likely to remain prominent in the U.S. through 2037 and beyond. Lobbying and government relations are the most effective ways to apply those pressures.…

GMO: It’s Time to Move On.

July 20, 2016Tim CanslerAgriculture, Food Safety, Govt NewsAgriculture, biotech, biotechnology, Food Safety, Genetically Modified, GMO, Lobbying, Lobbyist, Senate, Washington, Washington DC

Cansler Consulting Washnigton DC The House & Senate have approved GMO labeling legislation and the President will soon sign it into law. While a few legislators were unhappy, this compromise is in the best interest for the country. Republicans and lawmakers from rural states overwhelmingly supported the legislation. Agriculture groups have backed it, hoping it will bring more certainty to farmers who grow genetically modified crops. According to the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, U.S. farmers have adopted genetically engineered (GE) crops widely since their commercial introduction in 1996.

About the GMO Legislation

USDA will have two years to write the rules of the new legislation, which will cover foods created with conventional recombinant DNA techniques. It will not extend to plants or other food products created with CRISPR, a new and more precise gene-editing technology. Foods that consist primarily of beef, poultry, pork or eggs will not be required to carry a GMO label, even if they ate feed containing GM corn or soybeans.

As The Hill noted, the initiative would force food companies to “create QR codes that consumers scan with a smartphone to find out if a product contains GMOs.” The aforementioned states require labels to identify goods “produced with genetic engineering.”…

GMO Food Labeling Approved by Senate

July 18, 2016Tim CanslerAgriculture, BioTech, Food Safety, Govt News

On July 7, the U.S. Senate approved legislation requiring food packaging to display genetically-modified organism (GMO) contents using words, pictures or scannable bar codes in a 63-30 vote. The House passed the legislation a week later by a vote of 306-117. Farm groups and food manufacturing associations praised the passage of the bill. President Obama is expected to sign it into law. The law says that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) decides which ingredients will be designated as genetically modified. The Agriculture Department would have two years to write the rules. But, of course, not everyone is happy about the new labeling legislation……