• The USDA Tribal Advisory Committee’s Sept. 18 Federal Register notice is out. Proceedings start at noon EST, with public comments open from 3-4 p.m. The TAC is also taking nominations for new members through Sept. 22, 2025.  

• Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office is calling for public comments on draft legislation by Sept. 12, 2025. Read IFAI’s quick short analysis of Tribal food and nutrition provisions here.

• Episode 8 of IFAI’s podcast, Rooted Wisdom, features Dr. Browning Neddeau (Citizen Potawatomi), who speaks about his research on Native American imagery on agricultural crate labels.  

• USDA has extended the comment deadline for its proposed reorganization plan to Sept. 30, 2025. Check out IFAI’s analysis of potential Indian Country impacts here. 

• The nomination for Asst. Secretary of Indian Affairs is up on Sept. 10 in Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. House Agriculture holds a hearing on SNAP, while House Natural Resources holds two hearings covering forestry and several Indian Country-relevant pieces of legislation. 

Calendar

Tribal Consultation/Listening Sessions/Advisory Committee Meetings:  

Title of Event: Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting  

About: TAC is virtually holding its third meeting of 2025. The purpose of the Committee is to provide advice and guidance to USDA on matters related to Tribal and Indian affairs. 

• Date(s), Time, and Location: 
  • Sept. 18, 2025 (Thursday) at 12 to 7 p.m. Eastern; public comment period is from 3 to 4 p.m. (approx.) 

• Members of the public who wish to attend this meeting or provide oral public comments must register here. 
• Written comments may be submitted to the TAC by Sept. 15, 2025, via email at Tribal.Relations@usda.gov.  
• An agenda will be made available here.  

Congressional Sessions:

Looking back: 

Looking Back: House Natural Resources Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee, Sept. 3, 2025. 

Topic: Pending legislation – Defending our Dams Act – H.R. 2073 

Looking ahead:

Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs– Sept. 10, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern 
Topic: Business Meeting to consider the Nomination of Mr. William Kirkland to be Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs  

Hearing: House Committee on Agriculture– Sept. 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern 
Topic: Exploring State Options in SNAP 

Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources- Sept. 9, 2025, at 10:15 a.m. EST 
Topic: “State of Our Nation’s Federal Forests” 

Hearing: House Committee on Natural Resources– Sept. 9, 2025, at 2 p.m. EST 
Topic: Legislative Hearing on:  

• H.R. 681 (Rep. Keating, D-MA), To amend the Act of August 9, 1955 (commonly known as the “Long-Term Leasing Act”), to authorize leases of up to 99 years for land held in trust for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and for other purposes 
• H.R. 3654 (Rep. Randall, D-WA), “Tribal Emergency Response Resources Act” or the “TERRA Act” 
• H.R. 3903 (Rep. Begich, R-AK), “Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025” 
• H.R. 3925 (Rep. Obernolte, R-CA), “Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Land Exchange Act” 

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/Rulemaking Actions

• The US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are seeking public input on developing a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods (UPF or UPFs) for human food products in the U.S.
• The objective is consistency in research and policy work that addresses health concerns regarding UPF consumption.
• Written and electronic submissions will be accepted by Sept. 23, 2025. Confidential submissions will also be accepted.

Posted: Week of Aug. 25

• USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is seeking comments on a proposed rule that amends current meat inspection regulations related to swine carcasses.
• FSIS is proposing to end mandatory “mandibular lymph nodes incision and viscera palpation of swine carcasses in all swine slaughter establishments.”
• It is expected that removing this post-mortem inspection requirement may improve food safety by lessening opportunities for contamination.
• Comments must be received by Oct. 20, 2025.

Posted: Week of Aug. 25