House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock - 66th R.S. (1979)
Committee Members
- Forrest Green, Chair
- Pete Patterson, Vice Chair
- Dan Kubiak, Vice Chair - Appropriative Matters
- Betty Denton
- A. C. 'Tony' Garcia
- Tip Hall
- Luther Jones
- Bill Keese
- Tom Martin
- Susan Gurley McBee
- Foster Whaley
Charges
- Study grain marketing practices, to determine if Texas producers can improve their positions in the marketplace.
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Study the procedures used in forward contracting and the commodities futures market to determine the need for bonding provisions.
- Review all import and export laws relating to livestock and agricultural produce and determine the need, if any, for closer scrutiny of the importation of certain commodities.
- Study cotton warehousing in Texas with specific attention to alleged delays in service by the industry, the status of domestic and foreign markets, and the adequacy of current laws as it deals with cotton warehousing.
- Study the current status of laws relating to agricultural labor relations, including the issue of illegal alien labor, and recommend needed changes.
- Determine if state efforts are needed to preserve forest land, to promote conservation of both soil and forest crops, and to improve timber production.
- Review all available information concerning nonresident alien ownership of agricultural land with consideration to establishing a register of alien property owners in Texas. A determination of the effects of alien ownership on the local and state economy should also be made.
- Investigate the discontinuation of service by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific rail lines in the Texas Panhandle; to study the economic impact of the loss of rail transportation on industry of the area and the state; and to determine if any actions can be taken to insure the continued transportation of agricultural commodities to market by rail.
- Continue the cataloging of information on mariculture and determine the economic impact of mariculture on the state.
- Study all available energy resources usable for agricultural production, particularly the development of gasohol, wind, solar, and biomass conversion. Monitor and disseminate information on gasohol plants in operation today, and study alternatives to market by-products of gasohol plants.
- Monitor the activities and assist the Animal Health Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture in matters pertaining to the Texas Brucellosis Program. Review all laws pertaining to livestock and enforced by the Animal Health Commission; codify these laws to delete unnecessary provisions.
- Review all laws pertaining to livestock and enforced by the Animal Health Commission and codify these laws to delete unnecessary provisions.
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Oversight functions shall be conducted for all appropriations-related actions of those agencies assigned to this committee for appropriative purposes during the 66th Regular Session of the Legislature. The agencies include:
Department of Agriculture
Animal Health Commission
Soil and Water Conservation Board
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Texas Agriculture Experiment Station
Texas Agriculture Extension Service
Texas Forest Service
Rodent and Predatory Animal Control Service
Texas Veterinary Medical School Diagnostic Laboratory
Natural Fibers and Food Protein Committee
Structural Pest Control Board
Cooperative Meat Inspection
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