September 1, 2026

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

The House returns this week in session after being adjourned since July 23, while the Senate remains in recess until September 14. Members of both Chambers will be out of session next week for the Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah recess.  

Appropriations

The main priority for the House this week will be passing a Continuing Resolution (CR) to avoid a shutdown when government funding expires at the end of September. Just before breaking for the August recess, the Senate passed a CR with a vote of 90-6, which would extend federal funding through December 11. The House is expected to take up the Senate CR Tuesday evening under suspension of the rules, which prevents amendments being added and requires a two-thirds majority to pass it, as House Republican leadership is looking to pass the legislation as quickly. The CR passed the Senate with bipartisan votes, and House leaders are hopeful for a similar result.

Farm Bill

On August 6, the Senate Agriculture Committee held its mark-up of the farm bill. Following a discussion draft released earlier in the summer, the official bill text included a few notable changes, such as delaying the SNAP benefit cost-share provision from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act by allowing states to delay implementation by one year. While a Managers Amendment which included 34 individual amendments was approved unanimously, additional amendments offered during the markup were either withdrawn or failed along party lines, with the exception of a Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) amendment. The bill was voted on and failed with 11 no – 10 yes votes, as all Democrats voted against it. Two Republicans – Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) – were absent and therefore their votes didn’t count in the final tally. The Committee has said that they will be bringing up the bill again at a later date, and when they do, the bill as already amended will be the starting point. 

Senators Send Letter on FAS Reorganization 

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with 18 other Senators, sent a letter to USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden raising concerns with the reorganization of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to Kansas City, Missouri. The letter requests USDA send a detailed analysis of what the Department has done to ensure FAS can maintain functionality and responses to a series of questions regarding the reorganization to the Senators by September 14. The letter can be found here.  

Administration

GRAS Proposed Rule Released 

On August 11, the FDA released its proposed rule updating the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) process for human and animal food substances. The full notice can be found here and comments are due December 9, 2026. The proposed rule, if finalized, would: convert the voluntary GRAS notification program to a mandatory GRAS notification program for food substances, which include both ingredients and indirect substances (like food packaging); and outlines specific exceptions to the mandatory requirement to submit a GRAS notice including a time-limited, streamlined route for legacy self-GRAS ingredients already on the market.  

Trump Administration Actions to Lower Consumer Beef Prices  

The White House remains focused on actions that could lower beef prices for consumers. On August 26, the White House issued a proclamation temporarily expanding access to lower-tariff imports of lean beef trimmings to help address elevated ground beef prices and tight domestic supply. According to the White House fact sheet, the new expansion will apply for 90 days beginning September 1, allow up to 100,000 tons per month, and apply only to lean beef trimmings used in ground beef production. The proclamation also states that the imports are to be sold at a price 25 percent below the market price. 

In addition, President Trump posted on social media that he intends to take Executive action to allow farmers and ranchers to process their own food, instead of relying on the major packers who he referred to as having a monopoly. In response, Secretary Rollins released the Ranchers First Initiative, which includes both reiteration of USDA actions to rebuild the domestic herd of cattle and new announcements regarding an endorsement for Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) which would incentivize heifer retention and flexibility in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to allow ranchers to rebuild critical infrastructure as part of disaster recovery. The press release can be found here. 

U.S. Section 338 Duties Take Effect; Canada Releases Retaliation List  

An additional 50 percent Section 338 tariffs on certain Canadian goods took effect took effect August 22 after U.S.-Canada negotiations failed to produce a final agreement before the White House deadline. In response, Canada has released its counter-tariff list and will impose dollar-for-dollar retaliation on $20 billion in U.S. imports starting September 8, with tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 percent on a wide range of products including dairy, doughs and baking mixes, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, wood products, steel appliances and electronics. While there is hope for talks to resume ahead September 8, organizations are preparing for a potentially longer trade fight, including the possibility of U.S. counter-retaliation. Find the USDA FAS assessment of affected U.S. agricultural goods here. 

EPA Announces Small Refinery Exemptions 

EPA announced small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the 2025 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS), totaling 1.76 billion compliance credits (RINs) for 29 small refineries. In addition, EPA committed to a future rulemaking which will include 100% reallocation of the difference between projected and actual exempted RINs and a 30-day extension for compliance with the 2025 Renewable Volume Obligation (RVOs). Read more here.  

USDA Hosts “Harvest to Hallways” Rally 

USDA recently hosted a “Harvest to Hallways” rally and press event with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Ben Carson, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Calley Means and others to spotlight the Administration’s child nutrition agenda. USDA previewed a forthcoming school meals rule focused on whole foods, healthier cooking methods, whole grains, whole fruit and whole milk. While the rule has yet to be released, more details on what to expect of it can be found on the new Harvest to Hallways USDA webpage. The Department also announced $50 million for cafeteria upgrades and $20 million in farm-to-school grants, while HHS previewed a related $25 million initiative to help schools shift to healthier meals affordably.  

USDA Announces Food Purchases for Schools and Food Banks 

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced $156 million in commodity purchases under Section 32 to be distributed through the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) nutrition assistance programs. Commodities being purchased include canned peaches, grape juice, pork products, mandarin oranges, raisins, walnuts, prunes, and wild-caught shrimp.  

Notable News

• First US Phosphate Plant in Decades Planned Amid Global Conflict – Bloomberg 
• Canada’s Retaliatory Tariffs Hit U.S. Seafood and Dairy Producers – Civil Eats 
• The dangerous summer of food recalls – Washington Post 
• Exclusive: Free-market groups push back on processed food definition – Axios 
• The Pros and Cons of Data Centers in Rural Communities – Southern Farm Network Today 
• Packaging companies look to renewables, energy efficiency to reduce costs – Manufacturing Dive 
• Some States Banned the Use of Food Stamps to Buy Soda. Did It Work? – New York Times 
• USDA combines old and new tools in fight against screwworm – CBS 

This Week’s Legislation

• Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) introduced the Improving Health Through Integrated Food and Nutrition Services at Federally Qualified Health Centers Act to help community health centers integrate food and nutrition services into patient care.  
• Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Scientific Oversight for Unbiased and Neutral Data in Pesticide Research Act (SOUND Pesticide Research Act) which requires the Environmental Protection Agency to rely on four generations of toxicity data when making pesticide reproductive safety determinations.  
• Rep. Michael Bumgertner (R-WA) introduced the Wildfire Event Contract Prohibition Act to prohibit prediction-market platforms from listing or clearing contracts that allow speculators to profit from wildfire events. 
• Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced the Rebuilding America’s National Cow Herd (RANCH) Act to create a new voluntary grazing land restoration program.  

Upcoming Hearings

Monday, August 31

• 4:00 PM: The House Rules Committee will hold a meeting on H.R. 1501 – Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025; H.R. 9436 – To amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 to extend the time period for which certain regulation concerning the North Atlantic right whale are effective. [Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026]; H.R. 4795 – Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2026; and H. Res. 1490 – Providing for the condemnation and denouncement of socialism in all its forms, and for other purposes.  

Tuesday, September 1

• 10:15 AM: The House  Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing on the following bills: H.R.10158, H.R.7945, H.R.6207, H.R.5967, H.R.7502, H.R.6832, H.R.10170, H.R.10163, H.R.2713, H.R.9385, H.R.10152, H.R.6488 
• 2:00 PM ET: The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Work and Welfare will hold a Hearing on Welfare Reform at 30: Restoring the Promise of Work and Personal Responsibility in Federal Welfare Programs 

Wednesday September 2 

• 10:00 AM ET: House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains will hold a Hearing titled “Fueling the Golden Age: Future Resource Needs and Small Business Opportunity.” 
• 10:00 AM ET: House Ways and Means Committee will hold a Hearing on Strategic Partnerships to Secure Critical Resources and Supply Chains 

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, 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.