Summary
- Apply before April 1 for IFAI’s 2025 Native Youth in Food and Agriculture Leadership Summit.
- The FDPIR Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group will have its first consultation of 2025 on April 7 at the Tribal Self-Governance Conference at Gila River Tribe’s Wild Horse Pass. Registration is required.
- Last week, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee covered several bills, including two pieces of legislation concerning Indian Country veterinarians and improving the Tribal Forest Protection Act.
- Nominations for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Permanent Advisory Committee are due by March 24.
- FNS has published the levels of monthly benefits for the 2025 Summer EBT Program.
Calendar
Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings
Title of Event: Request for Information: Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects
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 deadline is March 24, 2025. IFAI has information and a comment template for Tribes interested in submitting here on our website.
Title of Event: Tribal Leader Consultation Work Group Tribal Consultation
About: This is the first meeting for 2025 for the Consultation Work Group. Agenda to be published when available.
- Date(s), Time, and Location:
- Monday, April 7, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. mountain
- Gila River Wild Horse Pass d
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Room TBD
Chandler, AZ
Congressional Sessions:
Looking back:
Hearing: House Committee on Agriculture – March 4, 2025
Topic: The State of the Livestock Industry: Producer Perspectives
Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs – March 5, 2025
Topic: Business Meeting to Consider Several Bills
Highlights:
- S.620, Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act – sponsored by Sen. Murkowski, the legislation seeks to provide public health veterinary services to Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, specifically focusing on rabies prevention.
- S.719, Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2025, also sponsored by Sen. Murkowski, seeks to improve the Tribal Forest Protection Act through improved definitions and specifics of the lands impacted.
Hearing: Senate Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forest, and Natural Resources – March 6, 2025
Topic: Legislative Hearing to Review H.R. 471, The Fix our Forests Act, and Options to Reduce Catastrophic Wildfire
Looking ahead:
Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry – March 11, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. eastern
Topic: Perspectives from the Field: Risk Management, Credit, and Rural Business Views on the Agricultural Economy Part 3
Legislative Hearing to Review H.R. 471, The Fix our Forests Act, and Options to Reduce Catastrophic Wildfire
Nomination opportunities:
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Permanent Advisory Committee
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: March 24, 2025
Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions
Title: Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer for Children Program; 2025 Benefits Levels
- USDA’s. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announces any annual adjustments to the level of monthly benefits in the Summer EBT Program.
- For the 48 States, District of Columbia and Indian Tribal Organizations, the adjustment is based on the monthly Thrifty Food Plan cost for a reference family of four.
- There is no change in 2025 monthly level benefits for the 48 States, District of Columbia, Indian Tribal Organizations at $40 per month and a total of $120 over the summer months.
- These benefit levels are in effect Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.
Posted: Week of March 10, 2025
Title: US Swine Health Improvement Plan; Reopening of Comment Period
- USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is seeking comments on a proposed rule about creating regulations that govern the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP).
- US SHIP would be a voluntary livestock improvement program with the objective of improving biosecurity, traceability, and disease surveillance for swine health.
- Establishing a health improvement plan would allow participating sites to market their products with the relevant certification status. This would limit disruptions to international and interstate commerce during outbreaks.
- Currently, there is no health improvement program that exists for the swine industry.
- Comments received by March 31, 2025, will be considered.
Posted: Week of March 3