Policy Brief Summary This week, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture  (USDA) Tom Vilsack will be traveling to the Osage Nation in Oklahoma to meet with the Tribe regarding Rural Development (RD) programs and access.  There are several Congressional...

Policy Brief Summary This week Senate Agriculture Committee conducts an oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack as a witness.  Two new federal register listings give notice for funding from the USDA Rural...

Policy Brief Summary Last week, there were three congressional hearings pertinent to Tribal food and agriculture. Two were in the House Natural Resources Committee concerning modernization of the Federal Land Management Act and Tribal economic development,...

Policy Brief Summary Senate Indian Affairs Committee heard testimony last week on several bills supporting Tribal self-determination and self-governance. This week, there will be two Congressional hearings. The first is the House Natural Resource Committee hearing on...

Policy Brief Summary Last week, the House Natural Resources Committee met with representatives from several tribes to discuss how to improve the Land Buy-Back Program. This week, the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hears pending legislation. There are opportunities to...

Policy Brief Summary This week, the House Natural Resources Committee is holding a hearing on land consolidation in Indian Country.  There are opportunities to provide feedback to federal agencies in the next couple of weeks including the Food and Drug Administration...

Policy Brief Summary It is a slow week, with no committee hearings in either chamber for agriculture committees. There are two events in the coming weeks to keep track of for those wanting to give feedback to federal agencies in listening sessions and consultations....

Policy Brief Summary   Congress is back in session this week, but there are no Tribal food and agriculture hearings scheduled.  Several boards and committees are still open for nomination submissions, with a couple having imminent deadlines: USDA Plant Variety...

Policy Brief Summary   After a week off for the annual Intertribal Agriculture Council’s gathering, the policy brief is back. We will take a two-week break over the Christmas and New Year holidays but will be back on the week of January 8. If news or information...