Summary: 

• There are no Congressional hearings scheduled this week, but the House is set to return on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and vote on a funding bill that could reopen the government.  

• DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs series of consultations on Secretarial Order 3443, which concerns elevating and unifying DOI’s Wildland Fire Management Program, has started. The remaining sessions are scheduled Nov. 13 – 19. Note, there is a venue change for the Albuquerque, NM session on Nov. 13. 

• Tribal Nations and Alaska Native Corporations still have time to submit written consultation comments on the proposed USDA departmental reorganization through Nov. 15 at tribal.relations@usda.gov. Read the IFAI analysis here.  

Outreach Calendar

About: This series of consultations will cover the Department’s effectiveness in wildland fire response. Oral and written comments will be accepted.  

• Date(s), Time, and Location: 
  • Nov. 10, 2025 (Monday) at 3-5 p.m. EST (Virtual) Register 
  • Nov. 13, 2025 (Thursday) at 1:30-3:30 p.m. MST (In-person)Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute Auditorium
    9169 Coors Blvd. NE
    Albuquerque, NM 87121 

• • Nov. 17, 2025 (Monday) at 3-5 p.m. MST (Virtual) Register 
  • Nov. 19, 2025 (Wednesday) at 3:15-4:45 p.m. PST (In-person)
    
    National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) 82nd Annual Convention Seattle Convention Center, Arch Building
    705 Pike Street Seattle, WA 98101 

• Dear Tribal Leader Letter 
• Secretarial Order 3443 

Congressional Hearings: 

There were no hearings relevant to Indian Country Food and Agriculture last week. 

Looking Back:

Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 

Topic: Nomination hearing for the Honorable Glen Smith, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development 

Highlights: There were no direct references to Tribal food and agriculture. In his testimony, The Hon. Glen Smith mentioned three issues: (1) the need for robust rural economies; (2) rural connectivity; and (3) transparency and efficiency in USDA programs on housing. In response to a question from Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), he committed to advising Secretary Rollins that Rural Housing should stay in USDA and not transfer to HUD. 

Looking Ahead:

There are no Congressional hearings scheduled this week.  

Nominations:

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:

There are no Federal Register notices relevant to Tribal food and agriculture.