Summary
-
- There are two Tribal consultations this month. The consultation on July 8 will focus on Tribal feedback about Budget Guidance per Executive Order 1412. The consultation and listening session on July 29 will be about FNS’ research study on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
- IFAI produced a summary for Tribes interested in the impact of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new agricultural producers’ water rule effective this month.
- FSA County Committee Nominations began June 17. Help improve FSA’s service to Indian Country by nominating qualified individuals before the August 1 deadline. Read this IFAI resource on what an FSA committee is and how Tribal producers and governments relate to their work.
- No Congressional hearings this week with the July 4 holiday coming up, two brief summaries of last week’s hearings in House Natural Resources and a subcommittee are below.
- Both Federal Register notices this week pertain to regulatory amendments on livestock.
Key Policy-Related Dates
Congressional updates
Looking Back
Hearing: House Natural Resource Committee- Wednesday, June 26
Topic: The House subcommittee held a hearing on two pieces of legislation, H.R. 1208 To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian Tribes and H.R. 6180 Poarch Band of Creek Indians Lands Act.
Highlights:
- House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK; Chickasaw Nation citizen), HR 1208’s sponsor, spoke in favor of the legislation.
- His bill applies the Indian Reorganization Act to all federally recognized Indian tribes, regardless of when a Tribe became recognized and is retroactive.
- This effectively overrules the Supreme Court’s decision in Carcieri v. Salazar, which held that Interior could not take land into trust for a specified tribe because that tribe had not been under federal jurisdiction when the Indian Reorganization Act was enacted in 1934.
Topic: Full Committee Mark Up- H.R. 8790 Fix Our Forests Act
Highlights:
- H.R. 8790, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.
- There were minimal mentions in the discussion on Tribal lands – specifically forestry – in the midst of the committee discussion.
Looking Ahead
No committee meetings week of July 1, Congress back in home districts.
Nominations
What is the nomination for? Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Description:
- USDA seeks nominations for four positions on the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. This 12-member committee is part of USDA’s efforts to increase support for urban agriculture and innovative production.
- Members provide input on policy development and help identify barriers to urban agriculture.
Deadline for submission? July 6, 2024 Where can I submit a nomination?
- Nomination packages must be submitted by email to UrbanAgricultureFederalAdvisoryCommittee@usda.gov or postmarked by July 6, 2024. If sent by mail, packages should be addressed to USDA NRCS, Attn: Brian Guse, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 4083, Washington, DC 20250. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for membership, including self-nominations. For special accommodations, contact Markus Holliday at UrbanAgricultureFederalAdvisoryCommittee@usda.gov.
Description: USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees are an important part of the day-to-day operations of FSA. These committees allow grassroots input and location administration of federal farm programs. More than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees across the U.S. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. County committees impact the administration of the Farm Service Agency within a community. They help make determinations on programs such as disaster assistance, hiring decisions, and assist with outreach. County committee members can impact producers through their decision-making and help shape the culture of a local FSA office.
Where can I submit a nomination: Find out where and how to nominate qualified individuals in your FSA Local Administrative Areas (LAA) on FSA’s website here.
Deadline: Aug. 1, 2024
Tribal Consultations:
Title of Event: Tribal Leader Consultation on Budget Guidance per Executive Order 14112
About: The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the White House Domestic Policy Council, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs will hold a Tribal consultation concerning Section 4(a) of Executive Order 14112 on Reforming Federal Funding Support for Tribal Nations. Written comments must be submitted to whcnaa@bia.gov by August 9, 2024.
Consultation Date(s):
- July 8, 2024: 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. eastern
About: USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is conducting a research study in a sample of Territories and ITOs to examine how operations are uniquely different than in other WIC State agencies and determine how this impacts the program experience. Findings from the research study could inform program or policy adjustments to ensure equitable operations and services for all WIC participants.
Consultation Date(s):
- July 29, 2024: 2 – 4 p.m. eastern (zoom login will be available starting at 1:30 p.m. eastern)
- The consultation and listening sessions will be done virtually with a registration deadline of Sunday, July 28, 2024.
Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions:
Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)
- ELAP provides emergency relief to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease (including cattle tick fever), adverse weather, or other conditions, such as blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture, that are not covered by the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) or the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
- This final rule, which takes effect on July 1, 2024, makes changes to ELAP to provide financial assistance to dairy producers who face milk losses due to H5N1 infection of their dairy herds.
- The federal register notice outlines eligibility criteria, application process, and payment calculations.
Posted: Week of July 1
- USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing a rule that would define unfair practices as conduct that harms market participants and conduct that harms the market.
- The purpose of this proposed rule is to promote fair and competitive markets in the livestock, meats, poultry, and live poultry markets.
- Comments must be received by August 27, 2024
Posted: Week of July 1
- USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) requests an extension on a currently approved information collection activity about Agency service delivery.
- AMS seeks to gather qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback such as information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions (not statistical survey) that can be generalized.
- The solicitation of feedback will target areas such as: timeliness, appropriateness, accuracy of information, courtesy, efficiency of service delivery, and resolution of issues with service delivery.
- Comments must be received by Aug. 12, 2024.
Posted: Week of June 17
Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems
- USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) seeks public comments on proposed revisions to its regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921.
- AMS is proposing amendments such as (1) prohibiting live poultry dealers (LPDs) from discounting or reducing the grower’s rate of compensation based on the grower’s grouping, ranking, or comparison to others; and (2) requiring LPDs to establish and maintain written documentation of their processes for the design and operation of a broiler grower ranking system.
- Comments must be received by Aug. 9, 2024.
Posted: Week of June 10