May 5, 2026

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Farm Bill

After a tense few days where the fate of a farm bill vote was in the balance, debate on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 began after 11 PM on April 29. During a three-hour, middle of the night session, amendments were offered, with debate continuing through the morning of April 30th. Ultimately, the bill passed 224-200 with fourteen Democrats voting for final passage and three Republicans voting against the bill (roll call votes can be found here).  

At one point, the farm bill was paired with a year-round E-15 bill, but it became clear that the provisions may cause certain members of the Republican party who were going to vote for the farm bill to oppose it. As a result, E-15 provisions were stripped from the farm bill process, and instead, action has been punted to mid-May when the House returns from recess. 

Of the 350+ farm bill amendments filed, 57 amendments were considered on the House floor. Twenty-four amendments were adopted, along with an en bloc amendment. Click here to view the results of amendment votes.  

The Senate Agriculture Committee will now have to move forward with their version of a farm bill, which Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) says will be coming in the following weeks. However, it is unclear whether the Democrats and Republicans will be able to compromise on a path forward as funding levels and certain provisions are already points of contention. E15, the SNAP cost-share with states, and disaster relief funding will all be main points of negotiation as conversations develop. 

Appropriations 

The House Appropriations Committee marked up and passed the FY2027 Agriculture, FDA, and Related Agencies bill last week with a vote of 35-25. Main areas of focus were around the USDA reorganization and staffing cuts, tariffs, fertilizer costs, increases in gas prices, research and competitiveness, reductions to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and energy costs. The Committee approved amendments around infant formula studies, requesting a report from FDA on the steps the agency has taken to remove food dyes from the food supply, and one directing the classification for low-risk foods that can be offered in facilities without being classified as food processing. The bill text, report language, amendments, and roll call votes can be found on the Appropriations Committee website here.  

House Energy and Commerce Hearing on Food Legislation 

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on legislative proposals concerning food regulation and oversight, discussing various bills aimed at improving food safety, labeling transparency, chemical reviews, and infant formula supply. The full list of bills can be found here. Witnesses and members emphasized the need for science-based federal standards, better federal-state coordination, increased FDA resources, and addressing the challenges posed by state regulatory patchworks and state efforts to define ultra-processed foods. There was also a lot of discussion around implementation capacity.   

Administration

USDA Announces Reorganization of FNS

The Department of Agriculture announced the reorganization of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which is the department responsible for overseeing the administration of 16 federal nutrition assistance programs including WIC, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and school meals. The administrator of FNS will remain in Washington, DC, while the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be relocated to Indianapolis, IN; the Child Nutrition Programs will be relocated to Dallas, TX; the Supplemental Nutrition and Safety Programs will be relocated to Kansas City, MO; and research programs will be relocated to Raleigh, NC. Those in opposition to reorganization efforts cite staff attrition and the loss of institutional knowledge, as well as logistical issues with administering programs as challenges associated with the moves.  

EPA Releases Fungicide Strategy

The Environmental Protection Agency posted their Draft Fungicide Strategy to Reduce Exposure of Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Species and Designated Critical Habitats from the Use of Conventional Agricultural Fungicides to the Federal Register last week. The goal of the strategy is to create a transparent and clarified approach to assess population-level impacts to listed species and identify mitigation to reduce the potential impacts from the use of agricultural fungicides through a three-step framework. The strategy is intended to determine whether, to what extent, and where mitigation may be needed to protect federally listed species from many uses of conventional pesticides. 

Treasury Department Announces Hearing on 45Z

The Treasury Department announced public hearings regarding the 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit from May 27 – May 29. Discussions will focus on rules for determining clean fuel production credits, including credit eligibility rules, emissions rates, and certification and registration requirements. In-person requests to attend will be open until May 22, 2026.  

FDA Conducts Testing of Infant Formula Supply  

The FDA conducted the largest and most comprehensive marked basket survey around infant formula as a part of their Operation Stork Speed initiative, which aims to test infant formula for certain contaminants. The FDA tested 312 infant formula samples across 16 brands for Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, 30 PFAS, 318 Pesticides, 21 Phthalates, and 1 Non-phthalate Plasticizer. Across the products tested, majority of infant formula samples had undetectable or very low levels of contaminants, affirming the safety of the U.S. infant formula supply. 

Notable News

• House Passes GOP-led Farm Bill – Politico
• From surplus to strain: world rice supply threatened by Iran war, El Nino – Reuters
• MAHA scores on farm bill but loses ally for surgeon general – Axios
• Food giants hit with consumer lawsuit calling ultraprocessed ingredients addictive – Food Dive
• Hochul urged to veto New York ban on food additives – The Center Square
• Here’s how to grow your own food with less water, even in a drought – AP
• Satellite-Connected Cows? Starlink Mobile Now Used for Livestock Tracking – PC Mag
• How the Hormuz Crisis is Driving a Biofuels Boom – Bloomberg 

This Week’s Legislation

• Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) introduced the FRESH Act (Food Reform for Effective and Sustainable Health) which would codify the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030.
• Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced S. 4453 to require the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to ensure that the information technology and cybersecurity and information security systems of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior are interoperable.
• Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act to require cell-cultivated protein and plant-based alternative protein products to bear an accurate label, clearly differentiating these products from meat and poultry products.
• Sens. John Fetterman (D-PA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) reintroduced the Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act to improve federal support for urban farmers.
• Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) introduced the Petfax Act to increase transparency in the pet adoption process. 

Upcoming Hearings

Hearings are not scheduled during the recess period. 

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 Sowinski, Eden Lambert, 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.