Putting Tribal SovereigntyPolicy
What we do
The IFAI Policy team assists Tribal Nations in strengthening their food systems and agricultural initiatives by delivering timely and accurate analyses of federal laws and policies that affect Tribal agriculture.
Policy RESOURCES
Fall Legislative Outlook: Indian Country Food and Ag Priorities
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – As Congress returns from the August recess this month, it faces a tight legislative schedule to finish must-pass legislation before the end of the year. Here’s a rundown of major pending legislation related to Indian Country food and...
Policy Brief- September 15
Summary: Senate Agriculture Committee to vote again on the Farm Bill- Senate Ag Chair John Boozman (R-AR) announced the committee will reconvene this week to vote again after a 11-11 deadlocked vote failed to push the legislation out of Committee in August due to...
IFAI Analyzes Roadless Rule Rescission
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – Today, the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI) published an analysis of the Tribal impacts of USDA’s proposed rule rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule, a regulation that prohibited most road construction and timber harvesting in almost...
Policy Brief- September 8
Summary: Government Funding – Last week, the House of Representatives passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) extending current federal funding levels through Dec. 11. Signed into law by President Trump, the CR heads off a potential government shutdown at the end of the...
Policy Brief- August 31
Summary: Government funding – The House of Representatives returns today from August recess and will vote tomorrow on a Continuing Resolution (CR) extending current federal funding levels through Dec. 11. If passed, the legislation would head off a potential...
Policy Brief- August 24
Summary: Roadless Rule – USDA has filed a proposal rule to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, a regulation that aims to protect 58 million acres of roadless U.S. Forest Service land by limiting new road construction, timber harvesting, and energy development. USDA has...
Policy Brief- August 17
Summary: Farm Bill negotiations remain unsettled - The Senate Agriculture Committee’s failed vote to advance its Farm Bill proposal leaves major questions about conservation programs, specialty crop support, crop insurance, nutrition programs, and rural development...
IFAI Analysis: Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2026
FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – The recently introduced Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act (S.4976) advances Tribal food sovereignty by establishing two new demonstration projects for Tribal Nations to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)...
Policy Brief- August 10
Summary: Youth Self-Advocacy Webinar – Join IFAI for a Credit and Loans Self-Advocacy Webinar on August 17 at 12 noon CT. This webinar will teach critical tools for Native youth to advocate for themselves with financial institutions, USDA, and Tribal and Congressional...
Updated Farm Bill Released by Senate Committee
WASHINGTON - The Senate Agriculture Committee released an updated Farm Bill text over the weekend that would delay new cost-sharing requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Committee is marking up the legislation on Thursday. Under...