Summary:

• IFAI and NAFDPIR will be hosting a Virtual Tribal Leader Caucus on June 16 at 1-2pm CT on the upcoming FDPIR consultation. IFAI will provide policy updates and background on consultation topics announced by USDA.

  Register for the FDPIR Tribal Leader Caucus HERE.

General Ag Policy Updates:

• Appropriations for BIA, Forest Service: The House Appropriations Committee released the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill last week. The bill provides $3.21 for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, an increase of $721.4 million from the current fiscal year; $$3.7 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) State and Tribal Assistance Grants cut of $713 million; and $283.5 million for the Forest Service’s State, Private, and Tribal Forestry Program, a cut of $26.5 million. The legislation will be considered by the full committee on June 3. IFAI will publish a detailed analysis of the bill’s impacts on Tribal food and agriculture following the committee markup.
• Senate Farm Bill in June? Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) hopes to introduce his committee’s version of the Farm Bill in June. Senate Republicans are under pressure to pass a Farm Bill after the House passed its version last month. To secure needed Democrat support, some Senate Republicans are reportedly considering delaying a new SNAP cost-sharing requirement for states that would kick in late next year. The cost-sharing requirement, established in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA), would significantly increase costs for states and could lead to reduced benefits for Tribal citizens. 

Outreach Calendar:

General Policy Update:

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings:

Title of Event: FDPIR Tribal Leader Consultation Working Group.
About: This is the first meeting of the Consultation Working Group for 2026, covering ongoing topics including program administration and policy updates, food package availability, procurement challenges, and funding levels. The meeting will be held in person with an option for virtual attendance. The agenda will be posted when it is available.

Date(s), Time, and Location:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST
NAFDPIR Annual Conference
Sheraton Niagara Falls
300 Third Street
Niagara Falls, NY, USA, 14303
Room TBD

All participants must register by June 22, 2026, HERE

Written comments must be submitted by July 23, 2026, to sm.fn.tribalaffairs@usda.gov

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Title of Event: FDPIR Produce Safety Training
About: This is a 2-day in-person training designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for FDPIR program operators and staff who are receiving, handling, and storing fresh produce. The training helps Tribes and State agencies properly assess and safely distribute fresh produce to program participants.

Date(s), Time, and Location:

• June 2026 (alongside the NAFDPIR Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, NY): REGISTER.

Congressional Updates: 

Looking Back:

Hearing: House Natural Resources Committee on Wed., May 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET

Topic: The Federal Reclamation Program’s Next Century

Highlights: The hearing focused on the future of federal water infrastructure and emphasized that aging reclamation systems are critical to sustaining U.S. agriculture but face growing challenges from drought, funding gaps, and project delays. Lawmakers also highlighted the need to uphold tribal water rights, advance settlement agreements, and improve consultation, while ensuring Tribes and agricultural producers are included in long-term water management decisions.

Read More HERE. 

Markup: Senate Indian Affairs Committee on Wed., May 20, 2026 at 2:30 a.m. ET

Topic: Business Meeting to consider several bills & Oversight Hearing to “Examine the President’s Budget Requests for Fiscal Year 2027 for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service”

Highlights: The hearing focused on the FY27 budget request for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service, with bipartisan concern that proposed funding levels may not meet federal trust and treaty obligations. Lawmakers highlighted significant cuts to BIA and Bureau of Indian Education programs, noting that reductions could affect Tribal government services, workforce development, infrastructure, and education, including the loss of funding for Tribal colleges and community programs.

Read More HERE. 

Hearing: House Natural Resources Committee on Thurs., May 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. ET

Topic:

• R. 7695 (Rep. Hageman), “To provide that the final rule titled “Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation” and issued on January 12, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 3244) shall have no force or effect and require the Secretary of Agriculture to construct certain roads on National Forest System lands, and for other purposes.”
• R. 8682 (Rep. Downing), “Accelerating Forest Management Act”
• R. 8688 (Rep. Hurd), “Forest Health and Wildlife Risk Reduction Act”

Highlights: Lawmakers debated whether repealing the roadless rule and streamlining NEPA processes would improve wildfire response and forest management or weaken environmental protections, public input, and ecosystem resilience. Tribal stakeholders strongly opposed changes to the roadless rule, emphasizing impacts on ancestral lands, treaty rights, and the need for meaningful consultation in federal land management decisions.

Read More HERE. 

Hearing: House Natural Resources Committee on Thurs., May 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. ET

Topic:

• R. 7954 (Rep. Hurd), “Don Young Doug LaMalfa Indian Buffalo Management Act”

Highlights: H.R. 7954 was presented as a widely supported, largely bipartisan effort that ties together conservation, cultural preservation, and economic development, while reinforcing tribal sovereignty by allowing Tribes to lead how buffalo restoration is implemented on their lands.

Read More HERE. 

Markup: House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee on Thurs., May 21, 2026 at 8 a.m. ET

Topic: FY27 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill

Highlights: The House Appropriations Interior Subcommittee’s markup of the FY27 Interior–Environment funding bill outlines a $38.9 billion proposal that prioritizes Tribal trust and treaty obligations alongside investments in energy production, wildfire response, and natural resource management, while also proposing reductions to several environmental programs. Members on both sides emphasized the importance of meeting federal responsibilities to Tribal Nations, though disagreements emerged over how those commitments are balanced against cuts elsewhere in the bill.

Read More HERE.  

Looking Ahead:

The House and Senate are out of session this week. 

Nominations:

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultative Committee (NCC)

Description: This committee advises the Secretaries of Commerce and State on issues relevant to the work of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) convention. NAFO is an international fisheries management body focused on coordinating international scientific studies of key marine species in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. NCC seeks nominations from committee members with fishing and/or seafood processing industry experience, marine/fisheries conservation and management experience, and more.

Deadline: Nominations for the committee will be accepted at any time.

APHIS seeks nominations for the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) General Conference Committee 

Description: The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) General Conference Committee is accepting nominations for members and alternates from three regions: South Atlantic, West North Central, and South Central. The Committee advises the Secretary of Agriculture on poultry health and plans the NPIP’s conference, which occurs every two years. Members are selected by a majority vote of NPIP delegates from each region.  

Deadline: Nominations must be received by June 30, 2026. 

Regulatory/Rule Making Actions:

Title: Rural Business Cooperative Service opens Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG) for FY26

• USDA announced last week that the Rural Development RBDG grant program is open for applications. This program, intended to foster economic development and job creation opportunities, includes a subset of funding that supports rural transportation projects. Rural transportation awards will be used to support the development of rural passenger transportation systems. Federally recognized Tribal governments are eligible for this award. Interested Tribes can learn more on the RD website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants.

• The deadline for application is June 30, 2026.