September 24, 2024

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Appropriations

After the six-month continuing resolution (CR) with the SAVE Act was defeated last week, House and Senate appropriators cut a bipartisan deal over the weekend. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) circulated a “Dear Colleague” letter, outlining a new CR package and urging his colleagues to avoid a government shutdown ahead of the election. The new CR includes an extension to fund the government through December 20. The House will move the bill on suspension this week, meaning that will need a two-thirds majority vote, with Democrats likely providing many of the votes. While the exact timing remains in flux, it is likely that the measure will pass through both the House and Senate, the funding deadline is on Monday.

Farm Bill

Also expiring on September 30 is the farm bill extension. House and Senate Agriculture Committee leadership is considering an ad hoc package if a new bill cannot be written and passed in a lame duck session. Senate Agriculture Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) brought the plan up on the Senate floor, while Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) has been hesitant to consider this plan and is still hoping for a new bill. House Agriculture Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA) have both acknowledged the plan as well. A farm bill extension is not included in the CR released over the weekend. Even though the current farm bill extension expires on Monday, Congress has until the end of the calendar year to pass a new farm bill or another extension before farm bill programs are impacted.

Hearings

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health held a hearing titled “Investing in a Healthier America: Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment” to examine the prevalence of chronic disease and the value of investing in prevention and innovative treatment options. The witnesses featured medical professionals, including Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Ashley Gearhardt, who is outspoken on her research around food addiction and ultra-processed foods. Witnesses and lawmakers discussed how poor nutrition is driving the chronic disease and obesity crisis and criticized the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in the American diet. Multiple members discussed food assistance programs and how restrictions on ultra-processed foods and incentives for minimally processed foods are necessary. Witnesses called on Congress to act by incentivizing diet-improvement initiatives, value-based care, prohibiting marketing to children, and funding more research into ultra-processed foods and food addiction. 

The Senate Agriculture Committee Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics and Research Subcommittee held a hearing on the school lunch and breakfast programs. Members discussed the necessity of continued investment in nutrition programs to enhance student health and academic performance, and specifically, Sen. Booker (D-NJ) also commented heavily on the dangers in our food systems, specifically the impacts of ultra-processed foods and dairy products. 

Leadership Changes

The House Freedom Caucus took a vote for a new Chair after current Chair Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) lost his primary, and elected Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD). Congressman Harris is also the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Ag-FDA Subcommittee. It is unclear how this new role will have an impact on his legislative priorities. 

Chronic Disease and Food as Medicine Briefings

On Monday, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) held a briefing titled “American Health and Nutrition: A Second Opinion,” featuring RFK Jr, Calley Means, Casey Means, Jillian Michaels, and other stakeholders in the Make America Healthy Again space. Speakers discussed ultra-processed foods and criticized the food industry for their role in heavily processing food to make it addictive. They also asked the FDA to reform the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) system, called on lawmakers to change what crops get subsidized in the farm bill, and condemned the USDA for “false and misleading health information.” 

Administration

USDA Awards Grants to Meat Processors

Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors to increase processing abilities, facilitate competition, and create jobs in rural areas. This is the final funding allocation to the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). USDA has provided 74 awards totaling more than $325 million through MPPEP to strengthen the food supply chain. A full list of awardees can be found here.

Dietary Guidelines Committee Holds Sixth Meeting

The Dietary Guidelines Committee will be holding their sixth meeting on Wednesday, September 25 from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM and then on Thursday, September 26 from 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM. The meeting will be livestreamed, and will follow up on discussion topics like ultra-processed foods, added sugars, sodium, and progress being made on the scientific report, which is set to be released in October.

Biden Administration Designates National Farm Safety and Health Week

The Biden Administration has officially designated September 15-21 National Farm Safety and Health Week. The themes were: equipment and rural roadway safety, health and wellness, farming across generations, safety in confined spaces like grain bins and manure pits, and reporting ag injuries. The official White House statement stated “During National Farm Safety and Health Week, we honor farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers for putting food on our tables, powering our economy, and supporting our communities. And we recommit to ensuring they have the resources they need to continue this work and live full, healthy lives.” 

Notable News

• Study Finds Streamlining Energy Regulations Could Ease Poverty on Tribal Lands – Wisconsin Public Radio
•  Inflation is Cooling, but are Consumers Convinced? Results from GFAPS – FarmDocDaily
• Seed Sector Survey 2024: Breakthroughs, threats, and Opportunities on the Horizon for the Global Seed Sector – International Seed Foundation
• Trump, Harris Give Lawmakers Whiplash with Costly Campaign Promises – The Hill
• How food banks prevented 1.8 million metric tons of carbon emissions last year – Grist
• Trump’s Embrace of RFK Jr Is a Threat to American Agriculture – AgriPulse

This Week’s Legislation

• Sen. Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Assisting Family Farmers through Insurance Reform Measures (AFFIRM) Act, which would limit federal crop insurance subsidies to $40,000 per farmer per year and eliminate crop insurance premium subsidies for individuals with an adjusted gross income of more than $250,000.
• Sen. Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Safe School Meals Act which would direct the FDA to set limits around heavy metals in school meals, ban PFAS and other packaging chemicals, and would prohibit a number of additives in meals.
• Congresswoman Lee (D-CA) introduced the National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2024, which creates a food as medicine Medicaid waiver grant program (with a specific call out for entities that provide locally owned or regionally sourced) agricultural products.
• Congressman Williams (R-NY) introduced a bill to provide guidance for and investment in the research and development activities of artificial intelligence at the Department of Energy.
• Congressman DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced a bill to incentivize innovative transportation corridors to reduce carbon and GHG emissions, to provide a tax structure that allows for certain investments in public transportation systems, and to enable the fossil fuel workforce to transition to sustainable work sectors. 

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, September 24

• 10:15 AM: The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on “Reforming Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): States’ Misuse of Welfare Funds Leaves Poor Families Behind”

Wednesday, September 25

• 10:00 AM: The House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs will hold a hearing on “Kitchen Table Economics: How Failed Biden-Harris Policies Continue to Hurt Consumers”

Thursday, September 26

• 10:00 AM: The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight will hold a hearing to “Examine the public health impacts of PFAS exposures.”

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, Tracy Boyle, or Grace Walker 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.