Summary: 

• After 54 days of the government shutdown, Congress is back in the swing of things. There are three Congressional hearings relevant to Tribal food and agriculture this week: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, and Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry 

• Included in the continuing resolution that ended the government shutdown were several agricultural program provisions, extending remaining Farm Bill programs that had been left without authorization since they expired on September 30, 2025. This included authorization for the Conservation Reserve Program, among others. This gives Congress until September 30, 2026, to reconsider Farm Bill legislation, or to pass another continuation.  

• The continuing resolution also included provisions that update the federal definition of hemp and establish new rules for hemp-derived cannabinoid products. These changes adjust the framework set by the 2018 Farm Bill and directly influence the definition of hemp, permissible cannabinoid levels, and the range of legal product categories. Tribal hemp producers will need to reassess regulatory compliance, business strategies, and economic sustainability considering these updates. Check out IFAI’s resource on this topic here.  

• The FDPIR Tribal Leaders Consultation Work Group will hold its final government-to-government consultation of the year with USDA during the Intertribal Agriculture Council’s Annual Conference on Dec. 10, 2025, from 2:00-6:00pm Pacific Time. Participants must register by Dec. 9 to participate virtually or in-person.  

• On Nov. 19, DOI’s Bureau of Indian Affairs will have its last session in a series of consultations on Secretarial Order 3443, which concerns elevating and unifying DOI’s Wildland Fire Management Program.  

Outreach Calendar

Title of Event: Unifying DOI Wildland Fire Programs through the Planned Establishment of the U.S. Wildland Fire Service (USWFS) 

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

Date, Time, and Location: 

• • 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 

Title of Event: FDPIR Tribal Leaders Consultation Work Group 

About: This is the last consultation meeting of 2025 between USDA and the FDPIR Tribal Leaders Consultation Work Group. 

Date, Time, and Location:

• Dec. 10, 2025 (Wednesday) at 2 – 6 p.m. PST (Virtual and In-person)
  
  

  Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC) Annual Conference
  Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
  4455 Paradise Road
  Las Vegas, NV 89169
  Room: Sage 3 

All participants must register HERE by Dec. 9, 2025 

Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Proxy Letter Template 

Congressional Hearings: 

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

Looking Back:

There were no Congressional hearings related to Tribal Food and Agriculture last week.  

Looking Ahead:

Hearing: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. EST 

Topic: Full Committee Hearing to Examine the BLM Land Use Planning Process under FLPMA 

Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. EST 

Topic: Legislative hearing to examine the following: 

• H.R.4276 – To amend the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act to authorize grants to Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and Native Hawaiian organizations, and for other purposes. 

• H.R.5515 – “Indian Trust Asset Reform Amendment Act”  

• H.R.5682 – To take certain land in the State of California into trust for the benefit of the Pechanga Band of Indians, and for other purposes. 

• H.R.5696 – “Strengthening Tribal Real Estate Authority and Modernizing Land for Indigenous Nation Expansion Act” or the “STREAMLINE Act” 

Hearing: Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at 3 p.m. EST 

Topic: Hearing to examine the nomination of Michael Selig, of Florida, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   

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.