Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee activity: July 18, 2025 – August 22, 2025

Legislation includes wildfires, pesticides, logging, custom slaughter facilities, healthy drinking water, organic dairy, SNAP, screwworms, forests, National Forest Service, broadband, USDA, seedlings.

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JOHN FETTERMAN sits on this committee.

Republican members: John Boozman (R-AR), Chair; Mitch McConnell (R-KY); John Hoeven (R-ND); Joni Ernst (R-IA); Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS); Roger Marshall (R-KS); Tommy Tuberville (R-AL); James Justice (R-WV); Charles Grassley (R-IA); John Thune (R-SD); Deb Fischer (R-NE); and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

Democratic members: Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Minority Member; Michael Bennet (D-CO); Tina Smith (D-MN); Richard Durbin (D-IL); Cory Booker (D-NJ); Ben Ray Luján (D-NM); Raphael Warnock (D-GA); Peter Welch (D-VT); John Fetterman (D-PA); Adam Schiff (D-CA); and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

ACTIONS

Business meeting to consider nominations, July 21, 2025. Business meeting to consider the nominations of Dudley Hoskins, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Scott Hutchins, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, both of the Department of Agriculture.

Both nominees were forwarded to the full Senate for a vote.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcement date, July 23, 2025. Meeting date, July 29, 2025. 3:00PM(EDT), 328A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine perspectives on reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Meeting Details include video of the meeting. Transcript not yet available.

Announcement date, July 26, 2025. Meeting date, July 28, 2025. 5:30PM(EDT), 216 Capitol (Senate side), Washington, D.C. Business meeting to consider the nominations of Michael Boren, of Idaho, to be Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Richard Fordyce, of Missouri, to be Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, both of the Department of Agriculture. Meeting Details include video (which had been uploaded by August 22, but was not functioning properly). Transcript not yet available.

Announcement date, July 26, 2025. Meeting date, July 30, 2025. 11:00AM(EDT), 328A Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. Hearings to examine a review of the USDA reorganization proposal. Meeting Details include video of the hearing. Transcript not yet available.

Comment: A reorganization of the USDA? Why hasn’t this been all over the news?—This is the memorandum that triggered the announcement. Secretary memorandum SM 1078-015. Disbanding the central office in Washington, DC and establishing five new regional offices. So much for saving money.

LEGISLATION REFERRED TO COMMITTEE

S.350 - Wildfire Emergency Act of 2025. To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to select and implement landscape-scale forest restoration projects, to assist communities in increasing their resilience to wildfire, and for other purposes.

Introduced January 30, 2025 by Alex Padilla (D-CA). Cosponsored by Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). Initially referred to Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, where it was discharged by unanimous consent on July 17. The same day, it was referred to this committee.

S.2324 - Pesticide Injury Accountability Act of 2025. To amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to establish a private right of action for injuries caused by pesticides.

Introduced July 17, 2025 by Cory Booker (D-NJ). No cosponsors. Referred to this committee the same day.

S.2338 – Strengthening Local Food Security Act of 2025. To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to establish the Strengthening Local Food Security Program.

Introduced July 17, 2025 by Jack Reed (D-RI). Cosponsored by James Justice (R-WV). Referred to this committee the same day.

S.2395 - Mid-South Oilseed Double Cropping Study Act of 2025. To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to conduct research and development on the inclusion of certain oilseed crops in double cropping policies.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2396 - Farm Board Act of 2025. To amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to require certain membership on the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Puzzled comment: The current wording for membership on the Board of Directors of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation states that “there must be at least one specialty crop producer.” Tuberville’s bill amends that to read “at least 1 specialty crop producer, and, beginning with the Board of Directors serving on or after May 1, 2027, 1 producer that actively engages in livestock production and crop production of agricultural commodities.”

So, he changes “one” to “1,” and adds… what? What does the “1 producer that actively engages in livestock production and crop production of agricultural commodities” bring to the table or change in Board composition? I am confused. What am I missing?

S.2399 - Loggers Economic Assistance and Relief Act. To establish a payment program for unexpected loss of markets and revenues to timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses due to major disasters.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Susan Collins (R-ME). Cosponsored by Angus King (I-ME), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Snarky comment: You would think with the way tariffs are killing the pulp and construction industries in the USA, that Republicans would be on board with this bill. Maybe they like paying more for toilet paper?

S.2409 - PRIME Act (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act).To amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to exempt from inspection the slaughter of animals and the preparation of carcasses conducted at a custom slaughter facility.

Introduced July 23, 2025 by Angus King (I-ME). Cosponsored by six Republicans and two Democrats, Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2436 - Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act (Healthy H2O Act). To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to establish a grant program to assist with the purchase, installation, and maintenance of point-of-entry and point-of-use drinking water quality improvement products.

Introduced July 24, 2025 by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Cosponsored by Susan Collins (R-ME). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2440 - To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National Forest System land located in Franklin County, Mississippi. (No short title.)

Introduced July 24, 2025 by Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

Angry comment: Hyde-Smith apparently wants the National Forest System to convey Okhissa Lake land to the Scenic Rivers Development Alliance. Yep, a for-profit commercial and residential venture in Pike County, Mississippi that is the recipient of Mississippi state funding (through bonds) to finance their commercial property. Argh.

S.2442 - O DAIRY Act of 2025 (Organic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act of 2025). To require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide support for organic dairy producers and processors.

Introduced July 24, 2025 by Peter Welch (D-VT). Cosponsored by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Tina Smith (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2450 - Biochar Research Network Act of 2025. To amend the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national biochar research network.

Introduced July 24, 2025 by Chuck Grassley (R-IA). Cosponsored by Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2467 - Agricultural Biorefinery Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2025. To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to improve biorefinery, renewable chemical, and biobased product manufacturing assistance.

Introduced July 24, 2025 by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Cosponsored by Jerry Moran (R-KS). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2500 - Research for Healthy Soils Act. To amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to include as a high-priority research and extension area research on microplastics in land-applied biosolids on farmland.

Introduced July 29, 2025 by Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Cosponsored by Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2512 - EATS Act of 2025 (Enhance Access To SNAP Act of 2025). To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to remove certain eligibility disqualifications that restrict otherwise eligible students from participating in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

Introduced July 29, 2025 by Kirstein Gillibrand (D-NY). Cosponsored by eleven Democrats (including John Fetterman), one Independent (Bernie Sanders), and no Republicans. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2543 - Stop the SWARM Act of 2025 (Stop the Screwworms With Active Readiness and Mitigation Act of 2025). To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report on New World screwworm readiness and response.

Introduced July 30, 2025 by John Cornyn (R-TX). Cosponsored by Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

Comment: Despite the punny name of the bill, the New World Screwworm infestation isn’t going away on its own. The CDC is reporting on this as well. It is not prevalent in the USA yet, but Texans remember the fire ant.

S.2548 - Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act of 2025. To designate the Camp Hutchins Wilderness and establish Special Management Areas in the Shawnee National Forest in the State of Illinois.

Introduced July 30, 2025 by Richard Durbin (D-IL). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2559 - Summer Meals REACH Act of 2025 (Summer Meals Reaching Every Area’s Child Hunger Act of 2025). To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to eliminate certain requirements under the summer food service program for children.

Introduced July 30, 2025 by Andy Kim (D-NJ). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2566 - Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act. To amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to authorize States to approve certain organizations to acquire, hold, and manage conservation easements under the Forest Legacy Program.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Alex Padilla (D-CA). Cosponsored by Tim Sheehy (R-MT). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2574 - Prohibition of Agricultural Land for Foreign Adversaries Act. To prohibit certain persons from purchasing agricultural land in the United States.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

Comment: The “certain persons” who would be prohibited by this bill from buying agricultural land in the USA include any individual or entity associated with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation.

S.2580 - Promoting American Competition in Aquaculture Research Act. To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to eliminate the prohibition on indirect costs with respect to aquaculture assistance.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Roger Wicker (R-MS). Cosponsored by Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2582 - Advancing Research on Agricultural Soil Health Act of 2025. To require the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct research relating to measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification of soil carbon sequestration.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Tina Smith (D-MN). Cosponsored by Todd Young (R-IN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2596 - Saving the Forest Service’s Workforce Act. To institute a reduction in force moratorium at the Forest Service.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Cosponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Comment: YEA!

S.2598 - Forest Bioeconomy Act. To expand research relating to the use of forest products, to support research and technologies of the Forest Service, and to establish a mass timber science and education program to respond to the emerging research needs of architects, developers, and the forest products industry.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Cosponsored by Steve Daines (R-MT), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and James Justice (R-WV). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2608 - CRP Improvement and Flexibility Act of 2025. To amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to improve the conservation reserve program.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by John Thune (R-SD). Cosponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Tina Smith (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2610 - Streamlining Rural Broadband Act of 2025. To terminate the Community Connect Grant program of the Department of Agriculture.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Joni Ernst (R-IA). No cosponsors. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

Puzzled comment: Why does Joni Ernst want to terminate the Community Connect Grant Program of the Department of Agriculture? Passed in 1936 (yes, 1936), last amended apparently in 2018. So not a Biden-era bill. She did not explain in the text of S.2610.

S.2618 - MORE USDA Grants Act (More Opportunities for Rural Economies from USDA Grants Act). To improve the process for awarding grants under certain programs of the Department of Agriculture to certain counties in which the majority of land is owned or managed by the Federal Government and to other units of local government and Tribal governments in those counties.

Introduced July 31, 2025 by Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). Cosponsored by Steve Daines (R-MT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), and James Risch (R-ID). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

S.2643 - Seedlings for Sustainable Habitat Restoration Act of 2025. To amend the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, to enter into contracts, grants, and agreements to carry out certain ecosystem restoration activities.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Cosponsored by John Cornyn (R-TX) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

Comment: I am following this bill! I want to plant trees on my “back 40!”

S.2654 - Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2025. To amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 to improve the biobased markets program.

Introduced August 1, 2025 by Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). Cosponsored by Joni Ernst (R-IA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry the same day.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

POM9 – July 30, 2025. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress to modify the H-2A nonimmigrant visa program to address the untenable increases in wage rates resulting from the United States Department of Labor’s policies that create an undue and unsustainable financial burden on Louisiana farmers, who rely on an affordable, readily available H-2A workforce.

Comment: Can you get much more hypocritical, Louisiana? Hi Mike Johnson!

EC1546 – August 2, 2025. From the Assistant General Counsel, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, four (4) reports relative to nominations, vacancies, designation of service in acting roles, discontinuation of service in an acting role and an action on nomination for positions covered by the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998.

Comment: Why is this an EC instead of a PN (presidential nomination) or other form of public nomination? Are the nominations that toxic?

EC1547 – August 2, 2025. From the Regulatory Specialist, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled “Grazing Advisory Boards.”

POM17 – August 2, 2025. A joint resolution adopted by the Legislature of the State of Montana urging the immediate modification of ineffective and dangerous federal land management and wildfire policies in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Montana’s communities.

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