Policy Briefings

Agency: Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), USDA

Action: Request for comments by March 27, 2023

Does it matter: FNS is proposing to add a new system of records, entitled USDA/FNS-14, National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC) System to Detect Duplicate Participation. It will provide a secure method for State agencies that administer SNAP (state agencies) to share information to prevent and detect duplicate participation. 

Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA 

Action: Request for comments by March 30, 2023

Does it matter: FNS is proposing to add a new system of records, entitled USDA/FNS-14, National Accuracy Clearinghouse (NAC) System to Detect Duplicate Participation. It will provide a secure method for State agencies that administer SNAP (state agencies) to share information to prevent and detect duplicate participation. 

Agency: USDA – Office of the Chief Financial Officer

Action: Expedited request for comments by April 1, 2023

Does it matter: USDA’s Federal financial assistance funds may not be used on infrastructure unless:

(1) All iron and steel used in the project are produced in the U.S.;(2) All manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United States; and (3) All construction materials
are manufactured in the U.S. USDA may approve waivers to recipients/subrecipients when the following conditions are met: (1) Public Interest Waiver – Applying the BABAA domestic content procurement preference would be inconsistent with the public interest, (2)Nonavailability Waiver – The types of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials are not produced in the United States in sufficient reasonably available quantities or of a satisfactory quality, and (3) Unreasonable Cost Waiver – The inclusion of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent.

Agency: USDA – Food and Nutrition Service 

Action:  Notice for comments by April 3, 2023

Does it matter:  This collection is a revision of a currently approved collection for the School Meals Operations (SMO) Study (OMB control number 0584-0607) information collection with updated survey instruments for the school year (SY) 2022-2023. This study will collect data from State agencies and public-school food authorities (SFAs), including disaggregated administrative data, on the continued use and effectiveness of the nationwide Child Nutrition (CN) COVID-19 waivers, and continuation of SMO information collection with updated survey instruments.

Agency: USDA – Agricultural Marketing Service

Action:  Proposed Rule and referendum April 3 to April 21, 2023

Does it matter:  Amendments to Marketing Order No. 984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California, and provides growers with the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if they favor the changes. 

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency 

Action:  Proposed Rule April 3,  2023

Does it matter: Direct final action to authorize State changes for hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Unless the EPA receives written comments that oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize Vermont’s revisions to its hazardous waste program will take effect.  

Agency: Department of Agriculture, USDA 

Action:  Proposed Rule April 6, 2023

Does it matter: New information collection request to address existing reporting and record keeping requirements associated with newly developed State Plan and Annual Report systems under the SNAP Ed program. The information will be used to determine whether SNAP– Ed program resources are being maximized, and whether State SNAP agencies have produced a persuasive and data-driven needs evaluation.  

Agency: USDA – Food and Nutrition 

Action:  Notice for comments by April 10, 2023

Does it matter: USDA is taking steps to improve school meal nutrition standards for all children, including to better serve American Indian and Alaska Native children as part of its effort to prioritize equity in the school meal programs. Compared with the general US population, American Indian and Alaska Native children and adolescents have higher levels of obesity and obesity-related cardiovascular issues. Any healthy amendments to school lunch and breakfast programs would lead to better results for American Indian and Alaska Native children.

Agency: USDA – Food and Nutrition 

Action:  Notice for comments by April 10, 2023

Does it matter: Comments are requested on FNS’ intention to establish a process for requesting an FNS waiver to offer SNAP recipients incentives at SNAP authorized retailer locations that encourage them to purchase healthier foods. This collection burden only affects SNAP retailers as well as private organizations or governmental entities who partner with SNAP retailers.

Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA

Action:  Notice of public meeting April 19 –  20, 2023

Does it matter: There will be a meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) to examine any issues with the fruit and vegetable industry and provide recommendations and ideas on how the USDA can tailor programs and services to help. An in-person meeting will be held April 19-20, 2023, from 9 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) each day. 

Agency: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA

Action:  Request for comments by  May 1, 2023

Does it matter: This notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey. 

Agency: Community Development Financial Institutions Fund

Action:  Request for comments by May 12, 2023 

Does it matter: There will be a meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC) to examine any issues with the fruit and vegetable industry and provide recommendations and ideas on how the USDA can tailor programs and services to help. An in-person meeting will be held April 19-20, 2023, from 9 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) each day. 

Agency: USDA – Farm Service Agency

Action: Requests for application (ongoing until enough applications received)

Does it matter: Opportunity for interested eligible entities, including cooperatives, credit unions, and nonprofit organizations certified to operate as a lender, to apply for loans under the Heirs’ Property Relending Program. Approved entities will serve as intermediaries who will relend HPRP funds for projects that assist heirs with undivided ownership interests to resolve ownership and succession issues on farmland that has multiple owners.