September 12, 2023

Contents

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

What We’re Watching

Congress 

Appropriations

The House returns this week from recess, and with both chambers in session, appropriations will be the main focus for the remainder of the month. The Senate returned to Washington last week, and the Appropriations Committee released a statement indicating the plan for floor action on all appropriations legislation, beginning with a minibus of the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bills. There is likely to be a robust amendments process over the next two weeks. To recap, the Senate Agriculture appropriations bill was passed with bipartisan support, and would fund the agencies at $25.993 billion. This amount is $8 billion more than the House, and it will have to be reconciled or conferenced before year-end.  

Meanwhile, the House faces a less clear path forward as the varying factions of the Republican party disagree over key provisions within the bill. So far, there is no indication of when the House will consider the FY24 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is focused on mustering the votes to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) and prevent a government shutdown. The Freedom Caucus has indicated that they will not be voting to support a CR unless it includes their policy priorities. Democrats and the Senate have been vocal in their support for a clean CR that includes aid for Ukraine – which some members of the GOP are opposed to—as well as emergency disaster assistance.  

Farm Bill

While lawmakers are mostly focused on avoiding a government shutdown this month, members on the Agriculture Committees in both chambers are continuing to work on Farm Bill text. House Agriculture Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) announced that he will not be releasing text until a week prior to when a Farm Bill vote has been scheduled on the House floor. Meanwhile in the Senate, Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) said that she will be working to move a bipartisan bill before the end of the year and does not see the need for a Democrat-only bill. This statement follows remarks from Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who suggested there would be a Democrat version of the Farm Bill. The Senate has acknowledged they will not meet the September 30 deadline, but they are looking for action on the bill before the end of the year.  

Both Chairwoman Stabenow (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AK) wrote a joint letter to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to use his Commodity Credit Corporation authority to “address two key needs: trade promotion, and in-kind international food assistance.” The letter indicates support for trade opportunities and bolstering producers’ ability to compete in a global market, as well as international food aid due to ongoing conflict in Russia and Ukraine and export bans.    

Last week, the National Governors Association (NGA) wrote a letter to Agriculture Committee leadership highlighting their Farm Bill priorities in 2023 for each title. Some priorities include: increased investment for the Market Access Program (MAP); expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to 55 states and territories; support for disaster assistance programs; funding for the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program; broadband expansion for rural communities; funding for PFAS research and prevention in waterways; and strong opposition to legislation like the EATS Act that would be “preempting state level laws regarding agricultural production.”  

Administration

West Coast Dock Workers Ratify Labor Contract 

On August 31, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union voted to ratify a six-year contract that would improve wages for 29 ports from California to Washington state. The agreement reached by the union and the Pacific Maritime Association concluded over a year of negotiations and concerns that ports would be disrupted by strikes through the end of 2023. Workers covered by this contract include the significant ports at Los Angeles and Long Beach , which handle around 40% of imports from Asia.  

OSHA Proposed Rule on Walkaround Representatives 

The Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a proposed regulation that would allow for union representatives to perform walk around inspections with OSHA representatives “when they are reasonably needed in an inspection,” regardless of whether the workplace is under a union. The comments are due on October 30, 2023 and can be submitted here.  

USDA FNS Requests Comments on SNAP 

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) within USDA is requesting comments for the Assessing Equity in Work Requirements and SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] Employment & Training study. The study would aid the department in assessing and monitoring equity through the implementation of SNAP work requirements and SNAP Employment and Training Services. Comments are due on November 6, 2023 and can be submitted here.  

USDA Puts $65 Million Toward Conservation Innovation Grants 

The USDA announced $65 million that would further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants Program, $25 million of those funds are from the Inflation Reduction Act. The $65 million will be disbursed through two funding opportunities – On-Farm Trials, which will receive $50 million, and CIG Classic, which will receive $15 million. Priorities for the On-Farm Trials include water management, nutrient management, feeding and methane reduction, grazing lands, and soil health demonstration trials. The CIG Classic priorities include forestry, habitat conservation and restoration, improvement of local water quality, energy conservation, economics, and conservation methods through indigenous knowledge. Applications are open until October 30, 2023.  

Agriculture Secretary Defends Biofuel Policy  

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack defended the Biden Administration’s biofuel policy at a news conference Wednesday (8/30). Vilsack told reporters that the Biden Administration, “remains committed to the Renewable Fuels Standard,” noting that it is the only administration to make E-15 available year-round, invest billions of dollars into sustainable aviation fuel, and correct the use of waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  

Notable News

• Changes in US Agriculture Accelerating Faster than Anticipated – AgriPulse
• Federal Funding Gaps: A Brief Overview – Congressional Research Service
• Turkey’s Erdogan says Black Sea grain deal can be revived soon following talks with Putin – CNBC
• Bill expands financing for first-time farmers and ag manufacturers – AgriPulse
• Outlining Actions Necessary to Increase Farmer Participation – American Farmland Trust
• Nationwide Study on 30 US Farms Shows Positive Economic Impact on Soil Health Management – Soil Health Institute
• Pork Industry Grapples with Whiplash of Shifting Regulations – New York Times
• New York Farmers Outline Hopes for US Farm Bill – Spectrum Local News
• Global Food Prices Ease in August – AgriPulse

Upcoming Hearings

Wednesday September 13

• 10:00 AM: The House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Keeping the Lights On: Enhancing Reliability and Efficiency to Power American Homes.”
• 10:00 AM: The Senate Committee on the Budget will hold a hearing on “Unlocking America’s Potential: How Immigration Fuels Economic Growth and Our Competitive Advantage.”
• 10:15 AM: The Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions will hold a hearing on “The Impact of Biden’s Open Border on the American Workforce.”

Thursday September 14

• 10:00 AM: The House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing on “Examining Systemic Government Overreach at CEQ.”
• 10:00 AM: The House Energy and Commerce Committee Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Legislative Proposals to Prevent and Respond to Generic Drug Shortages.”
• 2:00 PM: The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on “The Inflation Reduction Act: A Year in Review.” 

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, Ashley Smith, Olivia Lucanie, Heath Brandt, 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.