Policy
What we do
The IFAI Policy team assists Tribal Nations in strengthening their food systems and agricultural initiatives by delivering timely and accurate analyses of federal laws and policies that affect Tribal agriculture.
Policy RESOURCES
Policy Brief – April 16, 2024
Summary Later this month, USDA will host a series of Tribal Consultations as part of their 2024 Barriers Consultation. IFAI is co-hosting the facilitation of caucuses for the April 24 Farming, Ranching, and Conservation consultation and the April 26 Food, Safety, and...
Policy Brief – April 9, 2024
Summary There are two Tribal sessions this week, including a Tribal Caucus on April 11, where IFAI will facilitate a discussion on USDA’s permanent implementation of Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (Summer EBT). Interested participants can still register...
Policy Brief – April 2, 2024
Policy Brief Summary There were no Congressional hearings last week about Tribal Food and Agriculture, and this week Congress is not in session. Nominations for the Invasive Species Advisory Committee are still open. The deadline is April 29. There is one Federal...
Policy Brief – March 26, 2024
Policy Brief Summary Congress has no Tribal agriculture-relevant hearings this week. Last week’s Congressional notes include a hearing on Tribal 477 plan implementation with Asst. Secretary of Indian Affairs Bryan Newland, testimony from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to...
Policy Brief – March 19, 2024
Policy Brief Summary There are two Congressional hearings this week: one in the House Natural Resource Committee concerning Tribal Self-Determination, and another in the House Appropriations Committee to review USDA’s budget with Secretary Tom Vilsack. There are three...
Policy Brief – March 12, 2024
Policy Brief Summary Last week, the House Committees on Natural Resources and Agriculture discussed the importance of 638 to Indian Country. This week, the House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a meeting on the Indian Buffalo Management Act. On March 9, the...
Policy Brief – March 5, 2024
Policy Brief Summary This week, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Tom Vilsack will be traveling to the Osage Nation in Oklahoma to meet with the Tribe regarding Rural Development (RD) programs and access. There are several Congressional...
Policy Brief – February 26, 2024
Policy Brief Summary This week Senate Agriculture Committee conducts an oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack as a witness. Two new federal register listings give notice for funding from the USDA Rural...
Policy Brief – February 20, 2024
Policy Brief Summary Last week, there were three congressional hearings pertinent to Tribal food and agriculture. Two were in the House Natural Resources Committee concerning modernization of the Federal Land Management Act and Tribal economic development,...
Policy Brief – February 13, 2024
Policy Brief Summary Senate Indian Affairs Committee heard testimony last week on several bills supporting Tribal self-determination and self-governance. This week, there will be two Congressional hearings. The first is the House Natural Resource Committee hearing on...
Putting Tribal Sovereignty