April 25, 2023

Contents

• What We’re Watching
• Notable News
• Upcoming Hearings
• Contact the Team

What We’re Watching

Congress

The House is set to vote this week on a $4.5 trillion GOP bill, the Limit, Save, Grow Act, that would raise the debt limit into 2024 while cutting federal spending by tens of billions of dollars. The legislation would expand SNAP work requirements for adults as old as 55, currently set at 49, while repealing the biofuel and clean energy incentives enacted last year as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Also, in the next week, the Treasury Department is expected to identify the estimated date that the U.S. government could default on the $31.4 trillion debt.

Last week, the House failed to reach the two-third mark to override the President’s veto of the resolution overturning the Waters of the United State (WOTUS) rule with a vote of 227-196. Both the House and Senate passed the resolution with bipartisan support in March. A total of 26 states have been granted a preliminary injunction regarding the new WOTUS rules, and attention is focused on a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court expected this summer. 

Last week, the House Committee on Agriculture heard testimony from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan. Regan faced controversy over Waters of the United States, EPA’s efforts to ban certain pesticides, and the hesitation by the agency to approve a summer waiver for sale of E15. 

The Senate Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources held a hearing Thursday (4/20), focusing on how to make conservation programs work for producers. The committee heard significant calls from the producers to address the shortages of technical assistance within NRCS, and to provide faster funding through programs such as the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) by removing administrative burdens.  

Administration 

USDA’s Chief Scientist Chavonda Jacobs-Young attended the Meeting of G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists in India last week to discuss critical global agriculture science and technology with other world leaders. Jacobs-Young stressed the importance of investments in agricultural research, development, and deployment, as well as the importance of forging strategic partnerships, to tackle the overlapping global challenges of food insecurity and climate change. 

Notable News

• Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Steps for Climate Resilience and Forest Conservation – USDA
• USDA Invests $46M in Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education – USDA
• EPA Administrator Says He’s Committed To Biofuels – Brownfield Ag Network 
• Biden Administration to Invest $140M in Western Water Projects – The Hill 
• Senate Subcommittee Hears Calls to Simplify RCPP – Agri-Pulse 
• Planted Vs. Base Acre Debate Resurfaces in Farm Bill Discussion – Farm Journal  

Upcoming Hearings

Wednesday, April 26 

• 10:00AM: House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit Hearing: Producer Perspectives on the 2023 Farm Bill
• 10:00AM: Senate HELP Committee meeting to consider the nomination of Julie A. Su, of California, to be Secretary of Labor, and other pending calendar business
• 10:15 AM: House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands Oversight Hearing: “Examining the President’s FY 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Forest Service” 
• 2:00PM: Senate Appropriations Water and Energy Development Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation 
• 2:30PM: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing: examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2024 for the Department of Commerce

Thursday, April 27 

• 2:00PM: House Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Hearing: “The Future of Digital Assets: Identifying the Regulatory Gaps in Spot Market Regulation” 
• 2:30PM: House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Hearing: The Biosafety of Risky Research: Examining if Science is Outpacing Policy and Safety 

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.