September 15, 2026

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Legislative Agenda 

Both chambers are in session this week. The House is set to adjourn afterward until the elections, while the Senate remains in session for three more weeks. A Continuing Resolution (CR) was enacted to fund the government through December 11, averting the risk of a shutdown before the midterm elections. Additional legislative action before the midterm election will almost certainly be limited, creating a long list of must-pass items to be addressed during the lame duck, the period between the elections and the end of the current Congress.  

Farm Bill 

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) has called a business meeting to resume consideration of the 2026 Farm Bill on Wednesday, September 16 at 3:30pm. While there has been desire expressed to find a bipartisan path forward, it is expected that with the return of Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the bill will advance along party lines. Should that occur, the path forward for a new farm bill making it out of Congress is unclear. While the current farm bill extension expires on September 30, lawmakers have until the end of the year to either pass a new bill or extend the existing bill before impacts will be seen.   

Administration

For a deeper dive on the Executive Actions regarding beef, see the Torrey Advisory Group memo here. 

U.S. Modifies Tariff Lists In Response to Canada’s Retaliation  

The U.S.-Canada trade dispute continues to escalate. Late Tuesday, September 8, the White House issued five proclamations revising the list of Canadian products subject to the additional 50% Section 338 tariffs and imposing a new Section 338 import ban on certain Canadian products. The action coincided with the start of Canadian tariffs on roughly $20 billion in U.S. exports. Affected products include certain food and agriculture goods including dairy, alcoholic beverages and equipment. While reports indicate that talks between the two governments are ongoing, diplomacy has not kept pace with the broader political escalation, leaving the countries at an apparent impasse.  

Secretary Rollins Attends Dallas Republican Midterm Convention 

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was a guest speaker at the Republican Midterm Convention last week in Dallas, Texas to highlight the administration’s agricultural announcements and activity. Her remarks touched on lowering beef prices and the President’s executive order, and how the Republicans must maintain their majority to build on the efforts of the past two years. The full remarks can be found here. 

HHS Awards $225 Million for Head Start Nutrition Programs 

The Department of Health and Human Services announced $225 million to go toward Head Start supplemental awards through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Out of the total funding, $89 million will go toward supplemental nutrition funding for 400 Head Start grant recipients, $88 million to improve Head Start facilities and learning environments, and $47 million in one-time supplemental funding for operational needs. The funding will be used to access nutrient-dense foods, increase food preparation and storage capacity, farm-to-table initiatives, and nutrition education. The full release can be found here. 

Notable News

• Horse smuggling exposes cracks in US defenses against screwworm – Reuters 
• Lawsuit seeks to stop USDA, USFS reorganization – Missoula Current 
• Trump administration stalled a survey of PFAS in wastewater, former EPA officials say – Associated Press 
• Applying the Science of Infant Formula Safety – Reagan-Udall Foundation 
• Trump’s Trade War With Canada Is Making Even Sprinkle Makers Nervous – New York Times 
• Firm to Farm: Federal Court Invalidates New H-2A Wage Methodology – RFD TV 
• For these Midwest farmers, regenerative agriculture is about more than soil health. It’s spiritual – Associated Press 

This Week’s Legislation

• Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) introduced a bill to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand eligibility of Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses. 
• Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) introduced the Ending Restaurant Purchases with SNAP Act, which would terminate the restaurant meal program under SNAP. 
• Rep. Josh Harder (D-CA) introduced the Partnerships for Better Health Act to create a grant program under USDA and HHS to expand access to healthy food and connect people with health resources. 
• Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ) introduced the Rural Broadband Modernization Act to ensure that assistance is available under the ReConnect program without regard to the technology used to provide broadband service. 
• Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) introduced the Rooting Out Mislabeled Agriculture (ROMA) Act to prevent low-quality foreign-grown tomatoes from entering the U.S. marketplace illegally through mislabeled blended imported tomato products. 

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, September 15 

• 10:00 AM: The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee will hold a hearing titled “Innovation in Disaster Prevention: Advancing Technology for Prediction and Response” 
• 2:00 PM: The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency will hold a hearing titled “Fixing Fraud and Failure in Federally Funded Homelessness Services.” 

Wednesday, September 16 

• 9:30 AM: The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing titled “Increasing Demand and Opportunities for Homegrown Products Here and Abroad.”  
• 10:00 AM: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries will hold a legislative hearing on H.R. 177 “Yosemite National Park Equal Access and Fairness Act” H.R. 3717 “Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act of 2025” H.R. 5935 “Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act” H.R. 6869 To amend the Aamodt Litigation Settlement Act to modify a provision relating to the extension of certain dates for the completion of the Regional Water System, and for other purposes. H.R. 8546 “Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act” H.R. 9017 “Pechanga Band of Indians Water Rights Settlement Technical Amendments Act” H.R. 9590  “SAFE for Manatees Act” H.R. 10117 “GATOR Act” 
• 10:00 AM: The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party will hold a hearing titled “Import Controls: Tools to Counter the CCP’s Industrial Policy and Supply Chain Threats.”  

Staff Updates

Torrey Advisory Group welcomes James Knupp to the team as our newest Member and Event Manager. Knupp will support the firm’s association management platform, bringing deep experience in project management, event coordination, external engagement, and publication support. 

Prior to joining TAG, Knupp served as Defense and Foreign Policy Project Manager at the Cato Institute, where he oversaw public and private events, managed department projects from conception to completion, coordinated with government relations staff on Hill events and outreach, and supported publication processes for print and digital platforms. He previously held research and policy roles at the Millennial Action Project, and the American Enterprise Institute. 

Knupp earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from American University, with a concentration in American Government and a minor in Russian.  

Click here for James Knupp’s bio and headshot. 

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 James Knupp 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.