IFAI Policy Brief April 8, 2025

Home 9 News 9 Featured Article 9 IFAI Policy Brief April 8, 2025

Summary

  • Last week, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a field hearing in Oklahoma City to examine 50 years of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA). Seven Tribal leaders were in attendance, and their comments as well as other highlights can be found below.
  • There are several Congressional hearings this week. You can watch the hearings here, or you can check back next week for the notes and reports.  
  • Last week, IFAI Executive Director Carly Griffith Hotvedt gave an update on executive orders impacting Tribal food and nutrition programs; the slide deck and webinar recording are on our website here. 
  • The Food and Nutrition Service is requesting comments about the 2027 Farm to School Census by April 25, 2025. Make your voice heard by using the link above.  

Calendar

 

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings

Details about the Tribal Advisory Committee have not been released, but check back for more information. 

Congressional Sessions:

 

Looking back: 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry –  April 1, 2025 

Topic: Legislative hearing to review S.222, The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and Improving Children’s Health.  

Highlights: Witnesses and the senators were generally supportive of the amendment as it increases choices of milk for consumption. Neither the senators nor the witnesses (2 panels) mentioned impacts or implications of the bill on Indian Country.  

 

Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources – April 4, 2025 

Topic: Examining 50 years of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act in Indian Country 

Highlights: Tribal leaders identified the importance of self-governance and self-determination authorities as well as the progress achieved in the 50 years of ISDEAA. 

Looking ahead:

Hearing: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry– Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. eastern 
Topic: Nomination Hearing for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and General Counsel of the Dept. of Agriculture 

 Hearing: House Agriculture Committee– Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. eastern 
Topic: The Power of Work: Expanding Opportunity through SNAP 

Hearing: House Committee on Ways & Means– Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. eastern  
Topic: Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing on Government Watchdog Findings: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program in Need of Reform, Better State Accountability, and Fraud Protection 

Hearing: House Appropriations Committee– Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. eastern 
Topic: Oversight Hearing- Review of U.S. Department of Agriculture Programs 

Hearing: House Agriculture Committee– Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. eastern  
Topic: American Innovation and the Future of Digital Assets: On-Chain Tools for and Off-Chain World 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources– Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. eastern 
Topic: Nomination hearing for Under Secretary of Energy, Under Secretary for Energy for Science, and Director of the Bureau of Land Management 

Regulatory/Rulemaking Actions

 

Title: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request  

  • USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is requesting comments about collecting information regarding the 2027 Farm to School Census.  
  • The Census provides the only nationally representative data available on farm to school participation and activities in the United States. 
  • It also compiles detailed information about State- and school food authority (SFA)-level farm to school engagement. 
  • Comments submitted by April 25, 2025, will be considered.  

Posted: Week of March 31, 2025 

Title: Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA); Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) 

  • USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced the availability of funding for ECAP to provide 1-time financial assistance to eligible producers of eligible commodities for the 2024 crop year.  
  • This is a new USDA program authorized by the 2025 American Relief Act intended to help farmers with losses from natural disasters and a difficult farm economy. 
  • Indian Tribe or Tribal organization are included in the description of “eligible producers.” 
  • Applications will be accepted between March 19, 2025 until Aug. 15, 2025. 

Posted: Week of March 24, 2025 

Title: FDA Food Traceability Rule Delayed to July 20, 2028. 

  • The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will push back the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule by 30 months, with a proposed rule in the Federal Register to be published later. 
  • The extension does not amend the requirements of the final rule. 
  • The final rule establishes additional traceability recordkeeping requirements (beyond what is already required in existing regulations) for persons who manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods on the Food Traceability List.