July 23, 2024

Contents

• What We’re Watching
• Notable News
• This Week’s Legislation
• Upcoming Hearings
• Contact the Team

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Appropriations

On Monday night, the House Rules Committee met to consider the Energy and Water and Interior and Environment Appropriations bills for FY2025. The official rule has been posted here, and the House will debate and vote on the bills this afternoon. Members also testified on the Ag-FDA bill before the Rules Committee, but a rule has been postponed for the time being. It is unclear if the bill will receive a floor vote next week.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will be moving the next tranche of four FY2025 spending bills, marking up the Interior, Commerce-Justice-Science, State and Foreign Operations, and Transportation-Housing bills on July 25. The final five FY2025 bills are expected to move through Committee next week before Congress breaks for the August recess.

Elections

The Republican National Convention was held last week in Milwaukee, where the entire Republican conference confirmed former President Donald Trump as the GOP nominee for the presidential election in November. Former President Trump tapped Ohio Senator JD Vance as his running mate. Senator Vance grew up in rural America, as noted in his book “Hillbilly Elegy”, and in his political career has pushed back on the regulatory agenda of agencies and advocated for protectionist trade policies.

After growing pressure and a slew of House and Senate members calling for President Biden to leave the presidential race, on Sunday, President Biden announced he will no longer be seeking re-election, and endorsed current Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor. She has already received the endorsement of many Democratic Governors, like Govs. Gavin Newsom (CA), Andy Beshear (KY), JB Pritzker (IL), and Gretchen Whitmer (MI), as well as an endorsement from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA). She has not made any indication of who will be chosen as the running mate. The Democratic National Convention will be taking place on August 19, where the party must choose a Presidential candidate.

Farm Bill

House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) and Senate Agriculture Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) both spoke about the state of the farm bill and the impact of the upcoming election at the Republican National Convention. Both agreed they were still looking to work in a bipartisan manner to move discussions forward, but the Ranking Member suggested the likelihood of another extension in September before the election.

Water Resources Development Act

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) passed through the House with a bipartisan vote of 359-13. In the Senate, the bill has been tacked on to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which is still awaiting floor action. Reauthorized every two years, WRDA includes provisions that promote conservation and development of water and related resources, including critical infrastructure projects.  

Administration

USDA Provides $90 Million for Conservation Innovation Grants

The USDA will be rolling out $90 million of funding for 53 projects across the Conservation Innovation Grants program. The program funds tool development and on-farm trials for habitat conservation, forestry, energy conservation, economics and indigenous knowledge projects. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is awarding more than $69.7 million for CIG On-Farm Trials projects and more than $20.2 million for CIG Classic projects.

FDA Healthy Definition Final Rule

The FDA final rule, Nutrient Content Claims, Definition of Term: Healthy, is currently at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This is new movement on the final rule, which has an anticipated date of September 2024. The final rule would update the definition for the implied nutrient content claim “healthy” to be consistent with current nutrition science and federal dietary guidance and would revise requirements for when the claim can be used on food labels.  

USDA Announces Meatpacking Expansion Money

Fifty projects over 30 states will be receiving $110 million through the USDA Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program through the USDA. Out of the full funding amount, $83 million will be used for upgrading meat processing plants, and $26.9 million will be used for equipment and facility upgrades. This effort follows the Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain, and is in efforts to lower food prices.

EPA Calls for Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee Nominations

The Environmental Protection Agency has released an official notice request for nominations for the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee. The purpose of the Committee is to provide policy advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on a range of environmental issues and policies that are of importance to agriculture and rural communities. Nominations are due by September 5, 2024.

USDA Announces Staff Promotions and Appointments

USDA has announced new appointments and senior staff promotions as of last week. Eric Deeble will be the Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Cindy Long will be the Deputy Under Secretary for Food and Nutrition Service; Sean Babington will now be the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary; Andrew Dinsmore was appointed Maryland and Delaware State Director for Rural Development; and Pam Monetti was appointed Illinois State Director for Rural Development. See the full release here.

Notable News

• Cutting farm nitrous oxide emissions helps climate and ozone layer, research shows – phys.org 
• What to do about harmful algal blooms? Turn them into biofuel, says Byron Donalds – Naples Daily News 
• Digestible plastic could offer alternative to plastic food packages – Agri-Pulse  
• How AI and automation will reshape grocery stores and fast-food chains – CNBC 
• Trump picks Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a once-fierce critic turned loyal ally, as his GOP running mate – AP News 
• What Biden Bombshell Means for Ag – Politico

This Week’s Legislation

• Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) introduced American Voices in Federal Lands Act which ensures only American citizens to provide public comment on federal lands and American energy production policy. 
• Representative Escobar (D-TX-16) introduced the Pigs and Public Health Act of 2024 which creates standards for pigs on the farm, during transport, and at slaughter to reduce the number of downed pigs and keep them from entering the food supply. 
• Representative Matsui (D-CA-07) and Representative Mullin (D-CA-15) introduced the International Maritime Pollution Accountability Act which creates greenhouse gas emissions fees for large marine vessels carrying cargo to US ports.  

Upcoming Hearings

Monday July 22

•  4:00 PM: House Committee on Rules will hold a hearing titled “Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025; Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025; Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2025” 

Tuesday July 23

• 10:00 AM: House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing titled “Financial Conditions in Farm Country” 
• 10:15 AM: The Committee on House Administration will hold a hearing on “Congress in a Post-Chevron World”

Thursday July 24

• 8:30 AM: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development will hold a hearing titled “Reauthorizing the CFTC: Stakeholder Perspectives”  
• 10:15 AM: The House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on “Safeguarding Workers and Employers From OSHA Overreach and Skewed Priorities.”

Contact the Team

Feel free to contact Michael Torrey, Tara Smith, Cassandra Kuball, Barbara Patterson, Katie Naessens, Julie McClure, Nona McCoy, Danielle Nelson, Ashley Smith, Olivia Lucanie, Caroline Snell, Heath Brandt, or Tracy Boyle with any questions or comments.

Food and agricultural organizations that need the right results in Washington, D.C. can trust Torrey Advisory Group to put its relationships, reputation, and expertise to work on your issue. Since 2005, the firm has successfully provided legislative and regulatory guidance, issues management, and association management services to a wide variety of clients. Learn more about us at torreydc.com.