May 20, 2025

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Budget Reconciliation

Last week, the House held markups in the Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, and Agriculture Committees as the next step in the reconciliation process. The House Agriculture Committee held its markup over Tuesday and Wednesday, with Republicans largely providing short remarks indicating their support for the bill, while Democrats voiced their opposition to the SNAP cost-share and Thrifty Food Plan modifications. The bill would cut $296 billion over 10 years through the new nutrition provisions, but also make key farm bill investments including farm safety net programs (Title I), conservation, trade promotion programs, and research. While Democrats offered more than 30 amendments, none were accepted, and the bill was approved by a vote on party lines.  

The House Ways & Means Committee passed their tax package, which included extension and certain increases in Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) tax credits that many farm groups have championed, such as 199A, and an increase in the exclusion base amount for to the estate tax (death tax). In addition, the bill included the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z). Provisions in the bill called for extension through 2031, exclusion of indirect land use change as part of the carbon intensity score for feedstocks, and restriction of feedstock imports to only USMCA countries. After an initial failed Friday vote, on Sunday night, the House Budget Committee passed the reconciliation package on a razor thin margin, with four Republican Members simply voting “present.” Next will be a vote in the House Rules Committee, which is slated for 1AM Wednesday morning. There are still some major hurdles to clear, including getting enough Republican votes on the House floor as Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) still must work out an agreement on the State & Local Tax (SALT) with Republicans from big population states. Johnson can only lose three Republican votes in the House assuming all Democrats oppose the final bill. 

Hearings on HHS FY26 Budget Request

Health and Human Services Department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified in the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. In both Committees, food dyes, SNAP, and nutrition funding were discussed with the Secretary.  

The Secretary stated that the Dietary Guidelines will be released around August and will be 4 pages (reduced from 400). He also received praise from lawmakers on his announcements to remove food dyes, proposed ad campaign for a healthier lifestyle, and his work on reforming the FDA post-market assessment criteria. This Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the FDA FY26 budget request, with Commissioner Marty Makary as the sole witness. 

Administration

USDA Approves First State SNAP Waiver

During a visit to the state of Nebraska, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed the first state-requested waiver for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that will allow the state to restrict the types of products that can be purchased with SNAP benefits. The Nebraska waiver will prohibit the use of SNAP benefits in the state for buying “soda, soft drinks and energy drinks.” Idaho and Kansas have joined the list of states seeking waivers and Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also sent a ‘letter of intent’ to USDA as the state also seeks a waiver to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to purchase sweetened drinks and candy. 

Agriculture Groups Warn Against MAHA Report 

Several agriculture trade groups, including American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers, National Association of Wheat Growers, and International Fresh Produce have released a statement warning against the anticipated Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report. The statement notes, “Should the MAHA Commission report baselessly attack and, worse yet, make claims that are simply untrue against the hardworking men and women who feed our nation, it will make further cooperation on this initiative very difficult and potentially put American food production at risk. We urge President Trump to ensure that the MAHA Commission report is based on sound science and evidence-based claims rather than opinions and preferences of social influencers and single-issue activists with little to no experience in actual farming or food production.” Read more here. 

U.S.-China De-Escalate on Tariffs

Following two days of negotiations in Geneva in early May, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day stay on the bulk of the tariffs and other barriers they have imposed on one another since President Trump launched the April 2 “reciprocal” trade policy.” While there is a significant reduction in the baseline ‘reciprocal’ tariffs, other tariff measures that were put in place around International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) earlier in the year remain in place, including China’s March 4 retaliatory tariffs on U.S. food and agricultural goods and U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum products. After the agreement was reached, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters that the highest tariffs imposed were “the equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade.”

FDA Rolls Out Post-Market Assessment Plan

The FDA has officially approved three natural dyes granted three new color additive petitions for food use. One petition, Galdieria extract blue, was approved for use in a variety of beverages like yogurt drinks and fruit juices, as well as candy and other dessert items; butterfly pea flower extract for several ready-to-eat snacks; and calcium phosphate for use in ready-to-eat chicken products, white candy melts, sugar for coated candies and doughnut sugar. 

Additionally, the FDA released an announcement on Friday morning stating that Secretary Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Makary will be rolling out the following actions on post-market reviews: 

• An evidence-based scheme to prioritize assessment of existing chemicals, with a public comment period opening soon. 
• A final post-market review process. 
• An updated list of chemicals under review, including BHT, BHA, and ADA, with an expedited review of phthalates, propylparaben, and titanium dioxide. 

While the announcement has no requirements on companies, it indicates the high priority of these assessments and future potential opportunities for public comment.

Seven Federal Advisory Committees Terminated

The Department of Agriculture has announced the termination of seven federal Advisory Committees after the Secretary decided they were no longer necessary. The Advisory Committees eliminated are the Advisory Committee on Agriculture Statistics, the Advisory Committee on Universal Cotton Standards, the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods, the National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee, and the Northwest Forest Plan Area Advisory Committee. The full announcement can be found here.

USDA Rolls Out Specialty Crop Funding

USDA announced they will be distributing $72.9 million in grant funding through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Eligible applicants are agricultural agencies or state departments of agriculture. funds are distributed to U.S. states and territories based on a formula that considers both specialty crop acreage and production value and is funded through the 2018 Farm Bill. Applications are due by July 7, 2025.  

USDA Reinstates Climate Webpages

The USDA will be reinstating their climate-related content and webpages within about two weeks. These webpages were removed at the beginning of the administration through an Executive Order directing the agencies to review climate-based programs. Program pages that had been removed included the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities and the National Resources Conservation Services. This comes in response to a lawsuit from environmental groups. 

Erin Morris Nominated as USDA AMS Administrator

Erin Morris has been appointed to lead the Agricultural Marketing Service, overseeing the USDA Market News Service, and administering the Packers and Stockyards Act and the National Organic Program, as well as agency functions around promotion of American producers. She will step into the role after current Administrator Bruce Summers retires at the end of May.  

Notable News

Torrey Advisory Group Executive Vice President Tara Smith (second from the right) participated in the 12^th Annual AgTech and FoodTech Workshops at the TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation. 

• Trump Leadership: If You Want Welfare and Can Work, You Must – New York Times
• Soybean Farmers Hope for a Deal as China and US Pause Tariffs – AP
• Early Childhood Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Health in Young Adulthood – JAMA Cardiology
• 20 States Sue Trump Admin Over Immigration Enforcement Funding Threats – Axios
• The Tariffs are Here. Inflation Isn’t. What Gives? – Vox
• Bayer: U.S. Supreme Court Could Decide in June Whether it will Hear Glyphosate Case – Reuters

This Week’s Legislation

• Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) introduced a bill to establish an Office of Agritourism in the Department of Agriculture.
• Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL) introduced the Feral Swine Eradication Act to extend the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program (FSCP).
• Congressman Ronny Jackson (R-TX) introduced the Livestock Indemnity Program Enhancement Act which request that the Department of Agriculture establishes additional payment rates for unborn livestock lost when gestating animals perish in natural disasters.
• Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) introduced the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act which would allow for Tribal Nations to be partners in the management of federal lands.

Upcoming Hearings

Tuesday, May 20

• 10:00 AM: The House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will hold a budget hearing on the Department of the Interior Fiscal Year 2026 Request.
• 10:00 AM: The House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee will hold a budget hearing on the Fiscal Year 2026 Environmental Protection Agency Budget.
• 10:00 AM: The House Science Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Environment will hold a hearing titled “Innovations in Agrichemicals: AI’s Hidden Formula Driving Efficiency.”
• 10:15 AM: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands will hold a legislative hearing on the “Fostering Opportunities to Restore Ecosystems through Sound Tribal Stewardship Act” or the “FORESTS Act.”

Wednesday, May 21

• 10:00 AM: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing titled “Examining Ways to Enhance Our Critical Mineral Supply Chains”
• 10:00 AM: The House Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing on “Fueling America’s Manufacturing Comeback”
• 10:00 AM: The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a budget hearing on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed FY26 Budget
• 10:30 AM: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies will hold a budget hearing to examine estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of the Interior
• 2:30 PM: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development will hold a budget hearing to examine estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Energy

Thursday, May 22

• 10:30 AM: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will hold a budget hearing on estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Food and Drug Administration.

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.