Category Archives: United States Congress

October 18, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Here are a look at some of the stories related to agricultural law in the news this week.   1.  A bill, titled the Water Rights Protection Act, has been introduced in the United States Congress that would prohibit the US Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior from conditioning any permit, lease, or other right to use federal property upon the granting of a water right to the United States.   [Read proposed bill here.]  The American… Read More →

August 30, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Although several of this week’s major Texas court cases were discussed in yesterday’s blog post, here are some additional ag law stories making headlines this final week of August. 1.  Even Congressmen are confused over the EPA’s plans to enforce the Spill, Prevention, Containment, and Countermeasure (“SPCC”) rule against farmers.  Senators Inhofe and Pryor recently wrote a letter to the EPA “requesting clarification” of the EPA’s interpretation of its own authority to begin retroactive enforcement of the SPCC rule on… Read More →

August 23, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** It was a busy week for ag law news.  Here are a few of the stories making headlines this week. *  This week Governor Perry announced his three appointees to the Texas Water Development Board.  The make-up of the Board changed after the passing of House Bill 4, which modified the board from 6 volunteer members to 3 members employed by the state.  Each member will be paid $150,000 per year.  Governor Perry’s appointees are Chairman Carols… Read More →

Texas Water Wars: United States v. Mexico

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** Texas has been fighting against its neighbors for water on many fronts.  In 2013, Supreme Court litigation has pitted Texas against Oklahoma in one case and against New Mexico in another, and there is currently an ongoing dispute with Mexico over its compliance (or lack thereof) with a treaty allocating Rio Grande water to the United States.  In the upcoming weeks, I intend to post a series of blogs called Texas Water Wars.  This series will discuss each of these battles, outline… Read More →

July 19, 2013 Weekly Round Up

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**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.** We’re coming to the end of another week.  Here are some of the top ag law-related stories making headlines. 1.  Last week, the United States House of Representatives passed a Farm Bill, after splitting out the nutrition portion for consideration at a later date.  House leaders say that a vote on the nutrition portion of the bill may come within the next week or two.  In the meantime, it waits to be seen what will happen when… Read More →