Summary

• The American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Hearing Dates and Testimony requests for FY2026 have been published by the House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 25-26, 2025. 

• Find out more about USDA’s Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects by reading IFAI’s updated blogpost. Tribes interested in submitting comments have until March 24.  

• The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held  Part 1 of a hearing about the views of farmers and ranchers on the Agricultural Economy on Wednesday.  

• Nomination opportunities for federal Advisory Councils and Committees remain open in the next few months, two of which have deadlines on Feb. 18. 

• This week, the Senate will vote regarding Brooke Rollins becoming the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

• IFAI is hosting an informational webinar about how the current administration’s executive orders impact Tribal food and agriculture on Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. Central. Use the link here to sign up.  

Calendar

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings

Title of Event: American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Hearing and Testimony 

About: The House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will host AIAN public witness hearings.  

Meeting Date(s):  

• Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025 

• Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 

• Note:  

• Deadline to submit requests to testify: Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 (Instructions here) 

• Deadline to submit written public testimony for all groups: Friday, Apr. 4, 2025 (Instructions here) 

About: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking feedback from Indian Country on the Child Nutrition Tribal Pilot Projects through a Request for Information process. The pilot will allow Tribal operations to administer one or more child nutrition programs like: 

• National School Lunch Program 

• School Breakfast Program 

• Child & Adult Care Food Program  

• Summer Food Service Program 

The final comment period deadline is Mar. 24, 2025. IFAI has information and a comment template for Tribes interested in submitting here on our website. 

Congressional Sessions:

Looking back: 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025  

Topic: Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on Agricultural Economy, Part 1 

Looking ahead:

Hearing: House Agriculture Committee, Feb. 11, 2025 – 10:00 a.m. eastern 

Topic: Examining the Economic Crisis in Farm Country 

Hearing: House Natural Resource Committee, Feb. 11, 2025 – 2:00 p.m. eastern 

Topic: Restoring Multiple Use to Revitalize America’s Public Lands and Rural Communities 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Feb. 12, 2025 – 2:30 p.m. eastern 

Topic: Examine Native Communities’’ Priorities for the 119th Congress  

Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, Feb. 13, 2025 – 9:30 a.m. eastern 

Topic: Perspectives From the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agriculture Economy 

Nomination opportunities: 

Bureau of Land Management Northern New Mexico Resource Advisory Council 

Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior 

Description: This regional advisory council provides advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within its geographic areas. Applications can be found here. 

Nomination due: Feb. 18, 2025 

Agency: USDA              

Description: USDA is seeking NACMCF nominees with scientific expertise in microbiology, risk assessment, public health, food science, and other relevant disciplines. Advisory Committee members serve a two-year term beginning September 2025 through September 2027. For further information, contact: Kristal Southern, Designated Federal Officer, by email to NACMCF@usda.gov or by telephone at 202–937–4162. 

Nomination due: Feb. 18, 2025 

Agency: USDA 

Description: The NAREEE Advisory Board advises the Secretary of Agriculture on top priorities and policies for food and agricultural research, education, extension, and economics. They provide stakeholder input and science-backed information to better inform USDA’s program decisions. 

Nomination due: May 2025 

Agency: National Marine Fisheries Service; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

Description: The Advisory Committee provides recommendations to the U.S. Commissioners to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission regarding the deliberations and decisions of the Commission. 

Nomination due: Mar. 24, 2025 

Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions

Title: Executive Order 14145 – Helping Left-Behind Communities Make a Comeback  

• On Jan. 19, 2025, the WH issued an Executive Order that takes a whole-of government approach “to defining, coordinating, and increasing accessibility to existing and future programs.” 

• The intention is to better support Tribal communities. 

• Objectives include federal collaboration on economic development and supporting award access in economically distressed regions.  

Posted: Week of Jan. 27, 2025