March 11, 2025

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Appropriations 

Over the weekend, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) rolled out a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government open until September 30, 2025. The package would cut non-defense programs by $13 billion, primarily by not funding FY2024 congressionally directed spending (CDS) projects (earmarks). Excluding these projects from various programs across the government appears to decrease some accounts, such as the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) Buildings and Facilities and the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) operations accounts; however, these decreases reflect the CDS exclusion. A few programs received increases such as $1.2 billion for the Food Safety and Inspection Service, $425 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and $7.6 billion for the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).  

While the Speaker may be able to convince his conference to pass the package on party lines, there will need to be bipartisan support in the Senate, since an anticipated 8 Democrats are needed for passage since Senator Rand Paul announced he will vote no. If a complete FY2025 spending plan is not put in place by April 30, then a 1% cut in spending across the board will occur.  

Hearings 

Last week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee considered the nomination of Dr. Martin Makary to be the Commissioner of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. While the bulk of the hearing focused on healthcare matters, Senators did raise the importance of diet, flaws within GRAS, food additives, food addiction, nutrition programs, and food safety personnel being laid off. The Committee will now have to vote on whether to send his nomination to the full Senate floor. 

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing on “The State of the Livestock Industry: Producer Perspectives.” Witnesses were from the cattle, egg, turkey, sheep, and pork industries. The focus of the hearing was on both the impact of recent tariff announcements and disease prevention, mainly for HPAI but also on getting aMPV into being eligible under the livestock indemnity program. Witnesses encouraged Congress to pass a farm bill this year to provide certainty to farmers.  

Senators Meet with Secretaries Rollins and Zeldin on E15 

Senators Grassley (R-IA), Ernst (R-IA), Marshall (R-KS), and Fischer (R-NE) met with USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on the year-round sale of 15% ethanol fuel blends, also known as E15 or Unleaded 88. This follows the Commodity Classic in Denver where Secretary Rollins voiced support for year-round sale of E15.  

Administration

Trump Administration Moves Forward & Modifies Tariffs  

Last week the administration moved forward with imposing their promised 25 percent duties on all Mexican and most Canadian goods and doubled a 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports. However, two-days later, President Trump granted all goods entering the U.S. under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement a reprieve from the duties. The pause is expected to lapse on April 2, when a new “reciprocal” tariff regime is slated to begin, according to White House officials. Despite the change, Canada is maintaining its C$30 billion in tariffs on U.S. exports that went into effect on March 4. But Canada’s Foreign Minister announced the second wave of retaliatory tariffs will be suspended until April 2 for goods compliant with USMCA. The second tranche of retaliatory tariffs by China on U.S. products, with a heavy focus on food and agricultural goods, started on March 10. Mexico held off on implementing any immediate retaliatory measures for the time being. See HERE for a comprehensive update on the tariff situation by the Torrey Advisory Group.   

President Trump Makes Joint Session Address to Congress 

President Trump held his first official address to Congress, where he highlighted the first weeks of his administration. Trump spent much of his speech listing off many of his executive orders on immigration and trade, praising the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for staff cuts, and encouraging Congress to enact his legislative priorities. He also said that the new trade policy will be great for the American farmer and asked them to “bear with him” for now.   

Letter by GOP Think Tank Sent to Secretary Rollins  

A conservative think tank started by former Vice President Mike Pence called Advancing American Freedom submitted a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. The letter raises concerns with tariff announcements, stating that farm equipment is expected to increase by 7 percent, and they anticipate other inputs to rise. It also says that “tariffs will reduce farmers’ export opportunities, increase their costs, and heighten uncertainty while creating an impetus for significant government aid to fend off financial disaster,” and urges the Secretary to work with the President to ensure these tariffs do not hurt farmers.  

Secretary Kennedy Directs FDA to Evaluate GRAS Rule 

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directing the acting FDA commissioner to take steps to explore potential rulemaking to revise its Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Final Rule and related guidance to “eliminate the self-affirmed GRAS pathway.” If finalized, this proposal would require companies seeking to introduce new ingredients in foods to publicly notify the FDA of their intended use of such ingredients, along with underlying safety data, before they are introduced in the food supply. 

Notable News

• Tariffs Add a New Shock to Food Supply Chains – New York Times
• US Exits $9.3 Billion Climate Deal with Developing Nations – DW
• Second Judge Blocks Trump’s Sweeping Freeze on Federal Funding – Reuters
• President Trump Eliminates Two Key Food Safety Committees – Food Safety News
• Companies Swarm Capitol Hill to Save Energy Tax Credits – E&E News by Politico
• Kennedy says he wants to make food safer. Trump wants to make it cheaper. Can we have both? – Los Angeles Times
• The Fundamentals of Food Prices: Costs, Consumer Demand, and COVID-19 – FMI – The Food Industry Association 

This Week’s Legislation

• Congressman Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the Agricultural Risk Review Act of 2025, which requires the Department of Agriculture to be a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). The bill passed out of the House Financial Services Committee markup.
• Congressman Josh Riley (D-NY) introduced the Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act to reauthorize rural cooperative development grants, and the Future FARMERS Act, which would reauthorize grants and fellowships for food and agricultural sciences education.
• Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-IA) introduced the Foreign Agricultural Restrictions to Maintain Local Agriculture and National Defense (FARMLAND) Act, which authorizes the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review all purchases or leases of American farmland by foreign entities that exceed $5,000,000 or 320 acres.
• Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the Farewell to Foam Act, which would phase out single-use plastic foam food service products, “loose fill” such as packing peanuts, and non-medical disposable coolers.

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, March 11

• 10:00 AM: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment will hold a hearing on “Water Infrastructure Financing: WIFIA and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund”
•  2:00 PM: The House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement will hold a hearing titled “Enhancing Federal, State, and Local Coordination in the Fight Against Criminal Illegal Aliens”
• 2:30 PM: The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold their third hearing of their series on “Perspectives From the Field: Risk Management, Credit, and Rural Business Views on the Agricultural Economy”

Thursday, March 13

• 9:30 AM: The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a business meeting to consider the nominations of Jayanta Bhattacharya, of California, to be Director of the National Institutes of Health, and Martin Makary, of Virginia, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, both of the Department of Health and Human Services

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, 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.