February 7, 2023

Contents

• Big Picture Overview
• What We Are Watching
• Notable News
• Contact the Team

Big Picture Overview

Congressional Update 

The House Appropriations Committee has named their full Member roster, including assignments to subcommittees. Click the highlighted links to view the Democratic roster and the Republican roster. 

House Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T. Thompson has scheduled an organizing meeting on February 8.  And, the Chairman has announced a bipartisan listening session at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, February 14 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PST. The event will be live streamed here. 

Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) are continuing with Farm Bill hearings in the Senate Ag Committee.  On February 9, USDA officials will testify about commodity programs, crop insurance and credit.  And the Committee has additional hearings planned for February 16 on nutrition programs and March 1 for conservation and forestry programs.  

Executive Branch Update 

President Biden is set to deliver the annual State of the Union address the evening of Tuesday, February 7. It’s expected that the speech will include a balance of showcasing his major accomplishments with the passage of bipartisan legislation over the past two years with setting the stage on how he intends to work with a Republican-led House this congress.  

The Biden administration has released a final rule regarding transitional standards for school meal programs. The rule focuses on limiting added sugar intake, including flavored milk. Notably, this is the first attempt to regulate sugar limits in school meal programs. In addition, the rule will also limit sodium levels and emphasize whole grain consumption. A public comment period will be open for 60 days starting February 7, 2023. 

As the Securities and Exchange Commission continues to consider public comments on the proposed climate disclosure rule, pressure remains from outside groups – including those in the food and agricultural sectors – regarding reporting requirements around Scope 3 emissions. Reports, indicate that SEC Chair Gary Gensler is considering the ramifications of maintaining the provision with the prospect of legal challenges from State Attorneys General and stakeholders. Should the rule be scaled back, there will be push back from climate activists and progressive Democrats who support greater oversight for companies regarding emissions.  

In the House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry (R-NC-10) has tapped Oversight and Investigations Oversight Subcommittee Chair Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04) to lead a working group aimed at combating the policies that factor environmental, social, and governance factors in corporate investment decisions.   

What We Are Watching

Tuesday, February 7 

• 9:00 pm EST: President Biden’s State of the Union address. (The Republican response will be from Governor of Arkansas Sarah Huckabee Sanders.) 

Wednesday, February 8  

• 9:30 am EST: A meeting to consider organizational matters of the Committee on Agriculture for the 118th Congress and the Oversight Plan for the Committee on Agriculture for the 118th Congress
• 10:00 am EST: House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing on the Impacts of the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule 

Thursday, February 9  

• 10:00 am EST: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing to examine the 2023 Farm Bill, focusing on commodity programs, crop insurance, and credit 

Notable News

• TAG in the News – Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Farm Bill and Organic Actions Update – Agri-Pulse
• Top Intelligence Committee Democrat: ‘We’ll learn a lot’ from downed Chinese balloon – Axios
• RFA Disappointed in Brazil’s Ethanol Tax Ruling – Brownfield
• Appropriations Power Shift – Roll Call
• For Biden, a Chance for a Fresh Start in a New Era of Divided Government – The New York Times

Contact the Team

Feel free to contact Michael Torrey, Tara Smith, Cassandra Kuball, James Glueck, Barbara Patterson, Katie Naessens, Caroline Snell, Danielle Nelson, Julie McClure, Jacqueline Muhammad, Ashley Willits, Perry Harlow, or Tracy Boyle 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.