January 28, 2025

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Nomination Hearings

Last week, the Senate Agriculture Committee held the nomination hearing considering Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture. Her opening statement laid out priorities for her first 100 days, which included delivering disaster aid, addressing HPAI and animal disease outbreaks, modernizing the USDA to better serve rural communities, eliminating burdensome regulations, and providing assistance in passage of a farm bill. There were discussions around trade, immigration, ultra-processed foods, and economic assistance to farmers. It is likely she will be confirmed, but a vote has not been scheduled yet.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have his nomination hearing to consider him for HHS Secretary this week. He will be testifying in front of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, and then will testify in front of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee on Thursday. While he will meet with both Committees, the Senate Finance Committee has the confirmation vote.

Committees

The House Agriculture Committee has announced Subcommittee members and leadership positions. The Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit will be lead by Reps. Austin Scott (R-GA) and Sharice Davids (D-KS); The Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture will be led by Reps. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and Andrea Salinas (D-OR); The Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology will be led by Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI); the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture will be led by Reps. Brad Finstad (R-MN) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT); the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry will be led by Reps. Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Jim Costa (D-CA); and the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development will be led by Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Don Davis (D-NC).

Administration

OMB Memo Issues Freeze of Federal Aid

The Office of Management and Budget issued a temporary freeze of “all federal financial assistance.” The memo clarifies that Social Security and Medicare wouldn’t be affected, however, does not specify what programs will be frozen. It directs federal agencies to “pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of Federal financial assistance” and calls out funding to foreign aid, non-governmental organizations, “DEI, woke gender ideology, and the green new deal.”

Trump Administration Calls for IRA Pause

The Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Matthew Vaeth, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy and Director of the National Economic Council Kevin Hassett wrote a memorandum to the heads of departments and agencies pausing disbursement of funds appropriated under the Inflation Reduction Act. This order has bene made through the Executive Order titled Unleashing American Energy, one of the many orders released by the Trump administration following his inauguration.  

FDA Releases Strategy on Food Safety in Berries

The FDA released a new national strategy to prevent foodborne illness in fresh and frozen berries. This comes as a result of finding gaps in food safety programs that could contribute to contamination, with the main contaminants being Hepatitis A and Norovirus. The new strategy suggests methods to address these gaps and sanitary practices. There has not been an outbreak in 35 years from domestic berries, however, there have been reported outbreaks linked to imported fresh and frozen berries. 

GAO Report on USDA Food Safety

The Government Accountability Office released a report on USDA, finding that they have lagged since 2019 in finalizing new standards for salmonella or campylobacter in meat and poultry. The report encouraged the agency to conduct an assessment of health risks that may occur as a result of the delay. This follows a major outbreak last year in ready-to-eat meats in delis nationwide being recalled for Listeria and Salmonella. A full list of GAO recommendations and a timeline of regulations can be found here.

USDA Releases Technical Guidance on Climate Smart Biofuel Feedstocks

USDA announced an interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks. This interim rule would establish guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production of biofuel feedstock commodity crops grown in the United States. The guidelines in this rule could be used in tax credit programs, like 45z, but ultimately the inclusion of the guidelines would be up to the Treasury Department. USDA is currently seeking public comment on the rule. 

Notable News

• USDA Pick Rollins To ‘Follow And Listen’ To Farmers On Deportations – Roll Call
• Predicting Farm Smells Seen As A Way To Guide Livestock Locations – North Dakota Monitor
• Trump Plans to Abandon Clean Energy. Can He Do It? – New York Times
• Wildlife, Agriculture Officials Increasing Vigilance As Bird Flu Outbreak Continues – Pennsylvania Capital Star
• The Future of AI Is Even More Fossil Fuels – Popular Science
• Wall Street Ends Higher With Hopes for Measured US Trade Policy – Reuters 

This Week’s Legislation

• Congressman GT Thompson (R-PA) and Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) reintroduced the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, to allow for unflavored and flavored whole and reduced fat (2 percent) milk to be offered in school cafeterias.
• Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) introduced the Fire Safe Electrical Corridors Act to allow for a more streamlined process while dealing with wildfire risk. The bill has passed out of the House.
• Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT) introduced three different conservation bills: The Public Lands in Public Hands Act, The Fill the Lake Act, and The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act.
• Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI) introduced a bill to suspend normal trade relations with the People’s Republic of China and to increase the rates of duty applicable with respect to articles imported from the People’s Republic of China.
• Representatives Tracey Mann (R-KS) and Steve Womack (R-AR) introduced legislation prohibiting the USDA from using federal funds to carry out its proposed rule regarding Salmonella.
• Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) introduced the Regulatory Cooling Off Act to slow down the rulemaking timeline, increase transparency, and streamline judicial relief.
• Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced a bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to authorize the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to carry out research and development on a single index insurance policy.

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, January 28

• 10:00 AM: The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing to examine “The Panama Canal and Its Impact on U.S. Trade and National Security.”
• Wednesday, January 29
• 10:00 AM: The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Wednesday, January 29

• 10:00 AM: The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on the Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

Thursday, January 30

• 10:00 AM: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on the Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• 10:30 AM: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on “The Malign Influence Of The People’s Republic Of China At Home And Abroad: Recommendations For Policy Makers.” 

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.