On Monday, February 22, AAI leadership was among a very diverse group of attendees who participated in a Transportation Roundtable, hosted by Congressman David Young.
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| Ag and Transportation leaders meet at Iowa Farm Bureau to discuss industry issues and solutions. Photo by Ben Nuelle. |
The meeting was designed as an information and needs gathering session for Congressman Young, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, who has charged USDA with creating a long term infrastructure plan designed to prevent transportation disruptions and to ensure global market access for ag products and value added goods. A very broad array of items were discussed, including surface transportation issues; CDL restrictions and pilot programs, weight limitations on Federal Interstates, truck safety issues, the Positive Train Control system, the needed repair and upgrades for locks and dams system, Rail accessibility and needs for agriculture commodities, the Shippers Liability System and many other items. Also attending the meeting with Congressman Young, were Arthur Neal, Deputy Administrator of the Transportation and Marketing Program, USDA, and Larry Minor, Associated Administrator for Policy at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, (FMCSA). AAI was represented at the meeting by Kevin Gray, AAI Transportation Committee Chair, Mark Morrissey, AAI Legislative Committee Chair, Joel Brinkmeyer AAI CEO, and Reilly Vaughan, AAI Membership Chair. The meeting was hosted by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in West Des Moines, IA.