-- Randy’s Roundup --

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

August 31, 2009

WTO's Arbitration Panel Decision 

I am pleased the World Trade Organization scaled back Brazil's $2.6 billion request for damages in an arbitration decision in Brazil's ongoing case against U.S. cotton.  The WTO also denied Brazil's request to impose penalties on U.S. services exports or suspend agreements on intellectual property rights agreements, limiting Brazil to $294 million in trade sanctions against U.S. goods.

While the WTO recognized that the United States repealed the Step 2 program, the WTO should have also considered the additional reforms made in the 2008 Farm Bill for cotton and export credit programs.

I do not believe Brazil should be allowed to take actions against the United States based on a cotton program and a cotton market situation that are both significantly different today than when this case started.  Since this case started, U.S. cotton production has decreased, but Brazil, China and India have all increased their cotton production.

Given this ruling, I look forward to meeting with United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk next week to discuss these important issues. As always, I look forward to providing you an update on this upcoming meeting.

Updates from the 19th Congressional District

Last week, I traveled across the district, stopping in Abilene, Lubbock, Tahoka and Denver City.

At each stop, I was impressed with the responsive turnout. While in Abilene, we had over 500 people attend my "Coffee with the Congressman" and in Lubbock, we had almost 1000 people. Thanks to everyone who was able to attend.

These coffees provided me a wonderful opportunity to hear how upset the people of the 19th District are about what is going on in Washington. I want you to know that I'm angry too. Since the beginning of the year, Congress and the Administration have been on a spending spree and the American people have had enough. I hope other Members of Congress are hearing the same message from those they represent.  At the coffees, many of you took the time to fill out forms with your thoughts and concerns.  Soon, I will be sharing those thoughts with the entire nation from the House Floor and I will also deliver them to the White House as well so the President knows how West Texans feel about his health care reform proposal.

Over the next week, I will continue visiting the people of the 19th Congressional District about issues that concern them most. I look forward to hearing from you and taking your thoughts back to Washington. I promise to make sure that Speaker Pelosi and my colleagues in Congress hear loud and clear from the people of West Texas and the Big Country.

The Week Ahead

Be sure to check my website to see where I will be this week. Tomorrow, I will be heading to Plainview to meet with the local Rotary Club as well as host a "Coffee with the Congressman". On Wednesday, I will be in Big Spring for several meetings and a Coffee. Following my events on Wednesday, I will be heading to Albany and Graham for the remainder of the week.  

As I travel through West Texas and the Big Country, I hope you will be able to join me to discuss health care and other important issues that are on your mind.

Upcoming Coffees

Plainview Coffee
Tuesday, September 1st
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CDT
Plainview ISD Education Complex Boardroom
2411 Yonkers
Plainview, TX

Big Spring Coffee
Wednesday, September 2nd
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm CDT
Hall Center for the Arts at Howard College
1001 Birdwell Lane
Big Spring, TX

Albany Coffee
Thursday, September 3rd
10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Aztec Theatre
141 S Main St,
Albany, TX 76430

Graham Coffee
Friday, September 4th
2:30pm - 3:30pm
American Legion
609 Elm St
Graham, TX

Constituents interested in attending one of these meetings can visit my website, www.randy.house.gov, or call my office, toll free, at 888-763-1611 for additional details.