November 12, 2024

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

This week, Congress will return to begin the post-election lame duck session. There are a number of priorities left for them to accomplish, including the farm bill, NDAA, disaster aid, and appropriations. Additionally, the Senate GOP will have a closed-door vote to elect a new party leader after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced earlier this year that he will be stepping down following the election. Potential candidates for the position include Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), John Thune (R-SD), and John Cornyn (R-TX).

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise announced he will be running again for his leadership position in the next Congress. Scalise also circulated a letter outlining his priorities for the first 100 days of 2025 to include the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts, repealing Inflation Reduction Act climate funding, and sending resources to the Southern border. Other priorities include government spending, improving government efficiency, and other conservative culture issues.

Elections

ICYMI: Download Torrey Advisory Group’s 2024 Preliminary Election Report here.

Former President Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance have won the 2024 election with 312 electoral votes, and ultimately helping candidates down the ballot to secure a GOP trifecta for next Congress. This will impact legislative priorities for lame duck depending on whether the Trump administration wants a clear docket next year, or if he works with GOP leadership to pass extensions in the hopes of negotiating better deals under a trifecta.

Specifically, President-elect Trump has already started outlining who will have key roles in his administration. Because the GOP has a 53-46 margin in the Senate, confirmations will likely be easier.  So far, Susie Wiles has been announced as the White House Chief of Staff, and Stephen Miller will be Deputy Chief of Staff. This week, former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin was announced as the nominee for the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. He has also been supportive of giving RFK Jr. a role in the administration to lead the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Possible initiatives of Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) may include increased regulation of food chemicals, reduced use of pesticides, further scrutiny of ultra-processed foods, and reductions in SNAP funding.

Administration

Dietary Guidelines Committee Reviews Scientific Report

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory (DGA) Committee has completed its final meeting to discuss the scientific report for the 2025-2030 DGAs, which are set to be released sometime next year. The scientific report still has to be submitted to USDA and to HHS but will likely include recommendations to limit red meat consumption and increase plant-based consumption, a request for more research on ultra-processed foods, and  efforts for equity and culturally appropriate meals.

Avian Influenza Update

To continue to curb the outbreak of H5N1, USDA announced they will begin a mandatory bulk testing program which will be implemented through a phased in approach using framework states may already have in place.

A new case of avian influenza was found in pigs in Oregon on a non-commercial farm, “backyard” farm. Notably, the strain found in the pigs most closely resembled the strain found in wild birds and not the strain found in dairy cattle. Subsequently, the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released a statement that the viral load found in the pigs were low and reiterated that the food supply is safe.  

Human Foods Program Releases Priorities for 2025

The FDA Human Foods Program has officially released their 2025 Priority Deliverables. It is broken down into 3 categories: microbiological safety, food chemical safety, and nutrition. Some initiatives include post-market assessments of food, draft guidance for Preventive Controls for Human Food specific to Chemical Hazards, research around PFAS exposure, front-of-pack labeling, and the new “healthy” claim.  

USDA Announces $239 Million for Biofuels

USDA Deputy Secretary Xochitl Torres Small announced the agency will award $39 million in grants to increase the availability of domestic biofuels, and $200 million through the Biobased Market Access and Development Grants through Commodity Credit Corporation funds. These grants are being provided through the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program and the Biobased Market Access and Development Program. A full list of projects that will receive grant funding can be found here.

Notable News

• Kip Tom Reflects on Trump Election – AgWired
• Will COP29 Unlock a New Era of Action? Here’s What to Watch at the 2024 Climate Summit – World Resources Institute
• RFK Jr. Targets the F in FDA – STAT News
• Farmer Sentiment in October Rebounded Ahead of U.S. Election – Ag Economy Barometer, Purdue University
• What Do Mexican Citizens Think of the Proposed Ban of U.S. Corn? – Seed World
• U.S. Farmers Brace for New Trump Trade Wars Amid Tariff Threats – New York Times 

TAG’s Cassandra Kuball will be taking part in a 2024 AAAS-RMF Policy Roundtable on “Global Agriculture and Food Trade and Needs” on Thursday, November 21 from 8 AM – 10 AM ET at the AAAS Headquarters in Washington, DC. To register to attend in person or online, visit https://www.aaas.org/events/2024-aaas-charles-valentine-riley-memorial-lecture 

This Week’s Legislation

• Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) introduced a resolution Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy climate for future generations, and thus to restoring the climate.
• Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) introduced the No Net Gains in Federal Lands Act of 2024, which would ensure that there is no net gain in Federal land ownership in any fiscal year.
•  Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced the Helene Recovery Support Act.
• Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced the Disaster Recovery and Resilience Act of 2024.
• Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the Carbon Cost Act of 2024, which would direct a study to project the net greenhouse gas emissions likely to be caused by Federal legislation.

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, November 13

• 10:00 AM: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a Business Meeting on the nominations of Matthew James Marzano, of Illinois, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Matthew Kaplan, of Maryland, to be Federal Cochairperson of the Great Lakes Authority, and 43 General Services Administration resolutions.

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.