Summary: 

• There are two Congressional hearings on Tuesday from the House Appropriations Committee and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Notes relevant to Tribal food and agriculture will be posted next week.  

• Two Federal Register notices of interest this week include the 2026 Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Meetings and the updated list of Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible to Receive Services from the US Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

• USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service recently posted a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Value-Added Producer Grant. Check out the LINK on IFAI’s website.  

Outreach Calendar

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings:

Title of Event: USDA Forest Service Tribal Forum: Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experience (EXPLORE) Act, P.L. 118-234 (Expansion of Good Neighbor Authority).  

About: This virtual session is an opportunity for FS to share information with Tribes and answer questions related to the implementation of the EXPLORE Act, which includes an expansion of the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). Since 2014, GNA has been an effective policy that enables Tribal, state, and county governments to work closely with the Forest Service on restoration projects that take place on federal lands. The EXPLORE Act has expanded this authority, and the Forest Service is hosting this Tribal Forum to discuss the changes in the law and how they may benefit Tribes.  

• Date(s), Time, and Location: 

• Feb. 11, 2026, at 2-3:30 p.m. EST, held virtually on Zoom. Register online.  

Congressional Hearings: 

Looking Back:

 There were no hearings relevant to Tribal food and agriculture this week. 

Looking Ahead:

Hearing: House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. EST 

Topic: Oversight hearing- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General 

Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. EST 

Topic: Making Federal Economic Development Programs Work in Indian Country 

Nominations:

Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC); Call for Nominations 

Description: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations for membership on the FRRCC, which provides policy, advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA Administrator. Advice and recommendations given by FRRCC members are of concern to farms, ranches, and rural communities. Further information about the FRRCC can be found HERE. 

Deadline: March 2, 2026. 

Nominations for the National Park Service Alaska Region Subsistence Resource Commission Program 

Description: The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking nominations for individuals to represent subsistence users on the following Subsistence Resource Commissions (SRC): the Aniakchak National Monument SRC, the Cape Krusenstern National Monument SRC, the Denali National Park SRC, the Gates of the Arctic National Park SRC, the Kobuk Valley National Park SRC, the Lake Clark National Park SRC, and the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park SRC. The SRCs hold meetings to develop NPS subsistence program recommendations and advise on related regulatory proposals and resource management issues. For example, advise on the subsistence of hunting programs, determine seasons and harvest limits, deal with proposed development in and adjacent to the park, and other like activities. 

Deadline: Nominations must be postmarked by March 9, 2026.

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Consultive Committee 

Description: The purpose of this body is to ensure that the interests of U.S. stakeholders are considered in the development of positions and policy relative to U.S. participation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO). 

Deadline: Nominations will be accepted at any time.

Regulatory/Rule Making Actions:

Title: Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Meetings for 2026 

• Each of the 10 Councils meet twice a year to provide advice and recommendations to the Federal Subsistence Board about subsistence hunting and fishing issues on Federal public lands in Alaska. 

• The 2026 winter meetings are scheduled between Feb. 17 and April 1, 2026; the 2026 fall meetings are scheduled between Sept. 24 and Oct. 29, 2026.  

• To determine whether meetings will be held virtually or in person visit this LINK  

Posted: Week of Feb. 2, 2026 

Read More HERE 

Title: Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible to Receive Services from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs 

• This notice publishes the current list of 575 Tribal entities recognized by and eligible for funding and services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) by virtue of their status as Indian Tribes. 

• This is an updated list from the notice published on Dec. 11, 2024.  

Posted: Week of Feb. 2, 2026 

Read More HERE