THIS WEEK IN
Federal Policy News
|
|
Reclamation Public Listening Session on Drought Funding Scheduled for September 30
|
The Inflation Reduction Act, recently passed by Congress and signed by President Biden, included $4 billion in drought funding. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is seeking input and feedback from stakeholders on the implementation of the funding. Previously, CAFB in collaboration with other agriculture and water organizations, sent a letter to Reclamation urging swift implementation of the funding. Specifically, the letter asked Reclamation to quickly release a Notice of Funding Availability to guide water managers and agricultural producers who are currently developing drought response proposals and offers a series of recommendations for the funding for Reclamation’s consideration. A one-hour listening session will be held this Friday, September 30 at 10:00 AM Pacific/1:00 Eastern. Click here to join the meeting or join by phone at (202) 640-1187 with passcode 421 272 164 #.
|
|
Comments Submitted to USFWS on
Compensatory Mitigation
|
Section 329 of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA 2021) requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a proposed rule that would establish objectives, measurable performance standards, and criteria for use for species conservation banking programs, consistent with the ESA. On July 27, the Service published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (AOPNR) seeking comments regarding the development of a proposed rule establishing objectives, measurable performance standards, and criteria for use, consistent with the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), for species conservation banking. In response to the AOPNR, CAFB submitted comments emphasizing the importance of consistency, transparency, and predictability. Given the Service does not have an established compensatory mitigation framework, the comments also questioned the necessity of developing standards of conservation banking at this time. Should standards be established, the letter also urged the Service to work collaboratively with other federal agencies to ensure uniformity and greater certainty for stakeholders. |
|
Modernized ESA Regulations Reinstated
due to Court Ruling
|
Modernized Endangered Species Act rules are officially reinstated following the September 21, 2022, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruling that a district judge who vacated the Trump-era regulations failed to properly evaluate the regulations on their legal merits reinstating the modernized rules. While the ruling doesn’t bring an end to the debate about modernizing ESA, many are celebrating the legal precedent of the ruling stating that it signals that the court must examine whether a rule is lawful or not. At this juncture, the court will either send the rules back to the agencies to work on or attempt to fix the problem by looking at the rules. Agricultural groups, including American Farm Bureau and CAFB, are hopeful the court will keep the rules in place for the time being.
|
|
White House Holds Hunger & Nutrition Conference |
Yesterday, the White House held their Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health—the first of its kind in over 50 years. Despite some troubles with organizing the event over the past several months, the administration was able to put together a full slate of speakers and separated discussions aimed at addressing a myriad of identified issues here in the US. At the heart of these discussions was a national strategic plan that was debuted a few days prior. The administration identified five key pillars they hope to build policies around going forward.
These include: improving food access and affordability, integrating nutrition and health, empowering consumers to make and have access to healthy choices, promoting physical activity for all, and enhancing nutrition and food security research. With a goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating for the country, the president stressed the importance of promoting public-private partnerships, which certainly includes the agricultural industry here in the US. We will continue to update members as the various relevant agencies begin to carry out this national strategy.
|
|
San Bernadino to Receive Expanded
Broadband Access
|
Last week, the USDA announced a new round of ReConnect projects for high-speed internet in several rural communities across many states. With several billions set aside from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, the USDA has begun staggered rollouts of several projects aimed at historically underserved and rural communities. The new round includes a California-based project for nearly 150 businesses and seven schools in the San Bernadino area. Previous projects have connected farming communities and Native American tribes across the state. Applications still remain open for areas wishing to be considered for the ReConnect program. You can click here to learn more about this process.
|
|
Sara Arsenault
Director of Federal Policy
|
|
Matthew Viohl
Federal Policy, Associate Director
|
|
Erin Hutson
Federal Policy, Consultant
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
