February 10, 2026

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Appropriations

Congress has now completed all but one FY26 appropriations bill. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) until this Friday, February 13. Negotiations continue about how to fund the DHS, particularly immigration and border security measures, in light of the recent shooting incidents in Minnesota. It is unclear if negotiators can reach a deal by the end of this week given the close voting margins in the House.  

Looking forward, conversations regarding the FY27 appropriations process are beginning to commence. The process will formally kick off with the release of the President’s budget, which is expected to be released sometime around the State of the Union address on February 24. After that, Members of Congress will begin to accept requests from stakeholders and then submit their priorities to the Appropriations Committee. 

Farm Bill

House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) is looking to hold a farm bill markup at the end of February with the release of text expected prior to the markup. Even if the bill passes out of the Committee, it is unclear what the path forward will be on the House floor. The Senate has not offered a timeline for a markup or bill introduction. 

Notably, House Agriculture Committee Republicans recently held a briefing to discuss politically fraught issues, such as Proposition 12, transferring the Food for Peace program to USDA, hemp regulations, and pesticides. While discussions appeared to be positive, stakeholders from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) coalition have expressed strong criticism regarding Chairman Thompson’s stance on pesticides. MAHA coalition members are raising concerns about labeling clarity and protections for pesticide companies and are threatening to primary the Congressman.  

Hearings

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture-FDA held a hearing with USDA Inspector General John Walk, along with Nicole Gardner, Assistant Inspector General for Investigations and Yarisis Rivera-Rojas, Acting Assistant Inspector General for Audit. One of the main issues raised by Subcommittee members was SNAP fraud and integrity, including the need for modernization of EBT cards to prevent skimming, as well as USDA’s pause on federal funds to Minnesota. Members also raised issues around foreign entities owning agricultural land, agroterrorism, and requested a map of where land has been purchased in relation to military bases and other sensitive locations.  

Administration

U.S. & Argentina Sign Trade Agreement, Beef Access Addressed by White House 

On Thursday, February 5, USTR Ambassador Greer signed the United States–Argentina Agreement on Reciprocal Trade and Investment. Additional gains were made around market access through reductions in tariffs on certain goods and new duty-free quotas, and through further reduction on certain non-tariff barriers against U.S. food and agriculture products. Of note, the agreement provided duty free quotas for certain U.S. agricultural products such as beef, cheese, nuts, potatoes, grape wine, and fructose. Specifically for beef, Argentina granted certain U.S.-origin beef cuts a duty free quota of 80,000 MT for 2026. Separate from the agreement, the White House issued a Proclamation on February 6, providing Argentina with a temporary increase for lean beef trimmings exports to the U.S. with an additional 80,000 MT of in quota duty free access for 2026 only.

FDA Loosens ‘No Artificial Colors’ Designation 

The FDA sent a letter to industry providing a notice of enforcement discretion related to the voluntary labeling claim of “no artificial colors.” Companies will now have the flexibility to claim products have no artificial colors when the products do not contain petroleum-based dyes; whereas in the past, companies could not use this claim if there were petroleum-based dyes or natural coloring. The FDA also approved beetroot red and spirulina extract as new natural colorings. 

Treasury Department Releases Rulemaking on Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) 

The Treasury Department has released long-awaited guidance on the 45Z tax credit, which supports the production of biofuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other on-road biofuels. While the rule clarifies some questions around the tax credit and includes updates supported by farm groups, many questions remain, including modeling to calculate carbon intensity, chain of custody methodology, and pass-down value of the tax credit to the farmer. Read more here.   

Secretary Kennedy Launches Take Back Your Health Campaign 

Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy held part of his “Take Back Your Health” tour in Tennessee last week, where he held a ceremony highlighting state activity, including banning Red Dye 40 in school meals and the approval of a SNAP waiver to restrict soda and candy. While in Tennessee, the Secretary was featured at Cattlecon, the largest cattle trade show in the United States, for a fireside chat with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Buck Wehrbein. The discussion focused on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the importance of meat protein, and praising the cattle ranchers for their role in the food system. The Secretary also noted that this administration “has no interest in importing beef.” However, shortly after the President announced a deal which included Argentinian imports of beef trimmings. 

Secretary Kennedy, along with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, will be holding a media event with key government officials including leaders from the Department of War and Bureau of Prisons on February 11 to highlight implementation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  

White House Rolls Out U.S.-India Joint Statement 

The White House and Indian officials have announced the framework for an Interim Agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade. While full details remain limited, the joint statement notes the elimination of tariffs on certain U.S. goods imported to India, including dried distillers’ grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits, and additional agricultural products. There is also an agreement to address non-tariff barriers that impact bilateral trade, and India will be purchasing $500 billion of U.S. energy products and industrial goods.  This is being referenced as an interim agreement that will lead towards the larger, more comprehensive “Bilateral Trade Agreement” that the two countries continue to work on. 

Notable News 

• How the new dietary guidelines could impact school meals – NPR
• Trump Administration to Make It Easier to Fire 50,000 Federal Workers – Wall Street Journal
• Food For Thought 2026: FDA Recall System Does Not Instill Confidence in Food Safety – PIRG Consumer Watchdog
• A Super Bowl Message From MAHA and Mike Tyson: ‘Processed Food Kills’ – New York Times
• Trump and China’s Xi speak by phone ahead of Beijing trip – Politico
• The US authorizes a short extension to a longstanding African trade agreement. Here’s what to know – AP
• Senators Clash Over Immigration Enforcement, Risking a D.H.S. Shutdown – New York Times
• Health and science professionals question scientific basis of 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – CSPI  

This Week’s Legislation

• Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced the GRAS Oversight Transparency Act, which would establish an interagency GRAS Review Board, led by the Department of Health and Human Services and the FDA, with participation from the USDA and the EPA, to conduct scientific reviews of these legacy determinations.
• Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) introduced the Meeting Demand for Organic Produce Act to allow for a test-out alternative to the three-year transition period for new organic producers who prove no prohibited substances are present in the growing space.  
• Reps. Joe Morelle (D-NY), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), and Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) introduced the Fair Repair Act, allowing consumers and small businesses a right to repair their own products by requiring manufacturers to make diagnostic repair information, parts, and tools readily available. 

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, February 10 

• 9:30 AM: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing on “A Review of Broadband Deployment Funding at the Department of Commerce.”
• 10:15 AM: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing titled “All in for America250: Public-Private Partnerships Supporting America’s Semiquincentennial on our Public Lands.”
• 2:30 PM: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census will hold a hearing on “Examining Fraud and Foreign Influence in State and Federal Programs.”
• 2:30 PM: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration will hold a hearing to examine fraud in Minnesota. 

Wednesday, February 11 

• 10:00 AM: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security will hold an oversight hearing on “Potential DHS Shutdown Impacts.”
• 2:00 PM: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology will hold a hearing on “Surveying the Threat of Agroterrorism, Part II: Assessing Federal Government Efforts.”
• 2:00 PM: The House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “South Asia: U.S. Foreign Policy in the Region.” 

Thursday, February 12 

• 10:00 AM: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on “Restoring Integrity: Preventing Fraud in Child Care Assistance Programs.”
• 10:00 AM: The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on “The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: Evaluating North American Competitiveness.” 

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.