April 18, 2023
Contents
- What We’re Watching
- Notable News
- Upcoming Hearings
- Contact the Team
What We’re Watching
Congress
Work requirements on social programs were center stage as House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) spoke at the New York City Stock Exchange regarding the upcoming debt ceiling vote. During his remarks, McCarthy mentioned the vote would be occurring in the “coming weeks.” He also noted that the current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) discourages able-bodied individuals from contributing to the workforce. While reports have indicated that he will introduce a bill addressing work requirements, it is still unclear if the bill will reflect the same changes for age qualifications included in Rep. Dusty Johnson’s (R-SD) bill. McCarthy’s announcement was met with fierce criticism from Democrats and SNAP program advocates. In a public statement, Ranking Member of the House Ag Committee David Scott said, “Let me be perfectly clear: holding food assistance hostage for those who depend on it, including 15.3 million of our children, 5.8 million of our seniors, and 1.2 million of our veterans, in exchange for increasing the debt limit is a non-starter. The ransom note that Speaker McCarthy unveiled in front of a crowd of Wall Street bankers today is dead on arrival.”
A Farm Bill listening session was held last Friday, April 14, in Binghamton, New York. Chairman Thompson (R-NY), along with other committee members, heard from producers and stakeholders across New York. There were numerous calls to increase the margin coverage reference price for the Dairy Margin Coverage program, for continued and increased support for conservation programs such as EQIP and RCPP, increased support for nutrition programs, and many asks for increased investment into agriculture research. Chairman Thompson also highlighted, in his closing comments, an upcoming announcement for an agriculture labor task force, which should be announced in late April.
Administration
At the G7 Ministers’ meeting on Climate, Energy, and Environment, the U.S. along with the U.K., Germany, France, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the E.U. committed to the acceleration of clean energy transition, but, notably, did not commit to the elimination of coal by 2030. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will be attending the ag ministers meeting in Japan this week. He will also first visit Vietnam, the ninth largest market for U.S. ag exports, to discuss trade and food security, as well as climate-smart agriculture. During the visit, Vilsack is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, Ag Minister Lê Minh Hoan Minister of Industry, and Trade Nguyen Hồng Diên, along with supporters of U.S. agricultural imports in the private sector.
In addition, USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor will lead the firt-ever agribusiness trade mission to the Netherlands this week in hopes of growing U.S. ag exports to the region.
Notable News
- Stricter Work Requirements for welfare programs like SNAP: McCarthy – Business Insider
- Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Strongest-Ever Pollution Standards for Cars and Trucks – Environmental Protection Agency News Release
- Biden administration offers proposals for Colorado River cutbacks – The Hill
- Injunction Stops WOTUS Rule in 24 More States – Brownfield Ag News
- What’s the Latest with the Black Sea Grain Deal – Farm Journal
Upcoming Hearings
Tuesday, April 18
- 10:00 AM – House Ag Committee Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of USDA Animal Disease Prevention and Response Efforts
- 10:00 AM – Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Full Committee Hearing to Examine the President’s Budget Request for the U.S. Forest Service for Fiscal Year 2024
- 1:30 PM – Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies hearing Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing: Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the Department of Commerce
Wednesday, April 19
- 9:30 AM – Senate Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing: Fiscal Year 2024 Request for the National Science Foundation
- 10:00AM – House Ag Committee: For the purpose of receiving testimony from The Honorable Michael Regan, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- 12:00 PM – Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research: SNAP and Other Nutrition Assistance in the Farm Bill
- 2:15 PM – Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee: Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the Food and Drug Administration
Thursday, April 20
- 10:00 AM – Senate Ag Committee Conservation Subcommittee: Conservation in the Farm Bill: Making Conservation Programs Work for Farmers and Ranchers
- 10:00 AM – Senate Committee in Energy and Natural Resources: Full Committee Hearing to Examine the President’s Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Energy for Fiscal Year 2024
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.
