Newsline for June 23, 2000

I'M BOB ELLISON. OUR REPORT RUNS 1:10.

HERE IS A SUGGESTED LEAD: THE EFFORT TO LIFT TRADE SANCTIONS IS GAINING MOMENTUM BUT STILL FACES OPPOSITION. BOB ELLISON HAS MORE.

ACTUALITIES COME FROM AMERICAN FARM BUREAU GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SPECIALIST AUDRAE ERICKSON. AUDRAE IS SPELLED A-U-D-R-A-E.

THERE ARE TWO EXTRA ACTUALITIES FOLLOWING THE STORY. IN THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY, ERICKSON SAYS MIAMI-AREA MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE TRYING TO KEEP U-S BANK LOANS AND CREDIT FROM BEING USED TO PAY FOR EXPORTS TO CUBA, WHICH SHE SAYS WOULD HURT SMALL AMERICAN EXPORTERS. IN THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY, ERICKSON GIVES WASHINGTON STATE REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE NETHERCUTT A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT FOR TAKING THE EFFORT TO END UNILATERAL SANCTIONS AS FAR AS IT HAS GONE.

STAND BY, THE STORY COMES FIRST IN 3...2...1...

(ELLISON) THE EFFORT TO END TRADE SANCTIONS ON FIVE COUNTRIES, INCLUDING CUBA, IS GAINING MOMENTUM IN CONGRESS. THE AMERICAN FARM BUREAU'S AUDRAE ERICKSON SAYS HOUSE LEADERSHIP WANTS TO RESOLVE THE SANCTIONS AMENDMENT SO THAT ACTION CAN BE TAKEN ON THE AGRICULTURE SPENDING BILL, TO WHICH THE SANCTIONS AMENDMENT IS ATTACHED.

(ERICKSON) LEADERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE HOUSE AGRICULTURAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL BY THE JULY RECESS, SO WE EXPECT THESE NEGOTIATIONS TO REACH A FEVER PITCH NEXT WEEK.

(ELLISON) A MAJOR STICKING POINT IS OVER PREVENTING U-S BANK LOANS AND CREDIT TO FINANCE EXPORTS TO CUBA. ERICKSON SAYS THE LITTLE GUY WOULD BE HURT BY SUCH A POLICY.

(ERICKSON) LARGE MULTINATIONAL FIRMS THAT DO BUSINESS IN OTHER COUNTRIES MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO FOREIGN BANKS, BUT SMALL COOPERATIVES, PROCESSORS AND PRODUCERS WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

(ELLISON) ERICKSON SAYS GETTING RID OF SANCTIONS ON LIBYA, NORTH KOREA, SUDAN, IRAN AND CUBA WOULD GIVE U-S FARMERS ACCESS TO SIX BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF MARKETS.

(ERICKSON) GIVEN THE LOW COMMODITY PRICES WE ARE FACING TODAY AND THE LACK OF ACCESS TO FOREIGN MARKETS, WE SEE PASSAGE OF THIS LEGISLATION AS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR MEMBERSHIP.

(ELLISON) ERICKSON SAYS A HOUSE VOTE TO END SANCTIONS COULD BE TAKEN BEFORE THE END OF JUNE.

BOB ELLISON, WASHINGTON.

STAND BY FOR THE FIRST EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS 15 SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(ERICKSON) THE MIAMI REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE ARE DESIRING TO SEVERELY LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO SELL TO CUBA AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT THIS BLANKET PROVISION IN THERE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT U-S FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FROM BEING INVOLVED IN ANY WAY IN THE EXPORT SALE.

(ELLISON) STAND BY FOR THE SECOND EXTRA ACTUALITY. THE CUT RUNS 12 SECONDS, IN 3...2...1...

(ERICKSON) NETHERCUTT HAS AMASSED STRONG SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE. UP TO THREE HUNDRED REPRESENTATIVES ARE STANDING WITH NETHERCUTT TO LIFT SANCTIONS ON U-S AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS.

(ELLISON) THE FARM BUREAU RADIO NEWSLINE IS UPDATED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY AT 5 P.M. EASTERN TIME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.