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AFIA Members Advocate for Feed Innovation and Supply Chain Resilience on Capitol Hill

AFIA Members Advocate for Feed Innovation and Supply Chain Resilience on Capitol Hill

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) recently brought 34 members from its Aquaculture, Pet Food, Equine, and Global Affairs committees to Washington, D.C. These members engaged with 45 congressional offices to discuss federal policies impacting animal food manufacturers, suppliers, and their customers. A primary focus of their discussions was advocating for the passage of the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (Innovative FEED) Act (S. 1906/H.R. 2203), which is currently part of the Senate farm bill. This legislation aims to modernize the Food and Drug Administration's review process for novel animal food ingredients, allowing the use of the existing Food Additive Petition process for ingredients offering non-nutritive benefits such as improved animal health, enhanced food safety, or reduced environmental impact. Additionally, AFIA members supported language from the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025, included in H.R. 8646, the fiscal year 2027 agriculture app...

USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture Faces Uncertain Future Amid Funding Delays and Committee Lapses

USDA's Office of Urban Agriculture Faces Uncertain Future Amid Funding Delays and Committee Lapses

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP), established by the 2018 Farm Bill, is facing an uncertain future due to withheld funding and the lapse of urban county committee elections. Since its inception, OUAIP has awarded nearly 200 grants and 146 cooperative agreements across 43 states and Puerto Rico, investing hundreds of millions in promoting urban agriculture. These initiatives support farmer training, establish incubator farms, facilitate tool-sharing programs, develop youth and workforce programs, and expand access to nutritious foods. However, $12 million in Congressionally mandated funding for OUAIP has been withheld without explanation from the USDA, and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will not be conducting elections for urban county committees, citing the expiration of a pilot program. This decision comes despite the 2018 Farm Bill directing these committees to operate for no fewer than five years, without specifying a limit...

Former Senator Debbie Stabenow Discusses Future of American Agriculture and Food Policy at MSU Lecture

Former Senator Debbie Stabenow Discusses Future of American Agriculture and Food Policy at MSU Lecture

Former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a two-time graduate of Michigan State University (MSU), recently shared her insights on the future of American agriculture and food policy during the second annual Stuckman Lecture in Food Economics and Policy. Drawing on five decades of public service, Stabenow discussed how policy, research, funding, and markets can collaborate to strengthen agriculture and support rural communities. Throughout her career, Stabenow served as a county commissioner, state legislator, congresswoman, and U.S. senator, becoming the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Michigan. From 2011 until her retirement in 2025, she chaired or was the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, playing a pivotal role in the passage of multiple Farm Bills. A significant achievement was authoring the first specialty crop title in the 2008 Farm Bill, which expanded federal support for growers of fruits, vegetables, hops, and nursery plants, particularly benefitin...

U.S. Representative Mike Ezell Co-Sponsors MARA Act to Boost Domestic Aquaculture

U.S. Representative Mike Ezell Co-Sponsors MARA Act to Boost Domestic Aquaculture

U.S. Representative Mike Ezell has co-sponsored the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in 2025 by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz and Roger Wicker. The MARA Act aims to advance the development of commercial, open-ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters. According to Representative Ezell, offshore aquaculture, when implemented correctly, can alleviate pressure on existing fisheries and create new growth opportunities. The bill seeks to enable the U.S. to increase its sustainable seafood production domestically. This legislative effort comes as North America lags significantly in global aquaculture production, contributing only one percent despite being the world's largest seafood importer. Producers attribute this disparity to complex and lengthy regulatory processes, with some permit applications pending for years. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projects a significant increase in global aquatic animal production by 2034, with most growth...

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Hosts First-Ever Senate Hearing on Menopause Care Gaps

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Hosts First-Ever Senate Hearing on Menopause Care Gaps

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee, recently hosted the first-ever Congressional hearing focused on menopause-related healthcare services. Titled 'Half the Country, Zero Hearings: Meeting the Moment to End the Menopause Care Gap in America,' the hearing on September 16 addressed the significant void in care impacting an estimated 75 million people. Expert witnesses at the hearing highlighted various barriers to adequate menopause care, emphasizing the urgent need for increased research and standardized training for healthcare professionals in this field. The initiative by Senator Gillibrand aims to bring long-overdue attention to a critical aspect of women's health that has historically been overlooked within the healthcare system.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Sen. Bernie Sanders Propose Legislation to Regulate Advanced AI Development

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar and Sen. Bernie Sanders Propose Legislation to Regulate Advanced AI Development

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have introduced the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act, a legislative proposal aimed at regulating advanced artificial intelligence. The bill seeks to permanently prohibit the development of artificial superintelligence and immediately pause certain advanced AI development until a new regulatory system is established. This new system would include the creation of a cabinet-level Department of Artificial Intelligence, tasked with monitoring advanced AI systems, overseeing the removal of dangerous capabilities, and supervising the destruction of prohibited artificial-superintelligence systems. The legislation also outlines penalties for violations, including potential prison sentences of up to 20 years. This initiative comes amidst growing concerns about the risks associated with increasingly powerful AI systems and the rapid pace of their development.

President Trump Weakens Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards for New Vehicles

President Trump Weakens Federal Fuel Efficiency Standards for New Vehicles

The Trump administration has announced a rollback of federal fuel-economy standards for new vehicles. Under the new regulations, American automakers will be required to improve the efficiency of their fleets by up to 1% annually, with a target of achieving an average of 34.9 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2031. This revised target represents a significant reduction from the previous Biden-era goal of 50.4 mpg. Automakers have expressed approval of these new standards, stating that they better align with current market demands. This policy shift marks a departure from more stringent environmental regulations previously in place.

Senator John Hoeven Expresses Optimism for Farm Bill Passage During Lame Duck Session

Senator John Hoeven Expresses Optimism for Farm Bill Passage During Lame Duck Session

Senator John Hoeven has indicated his belief that the farm bill will be passed during the upcoming lame duck session of Congress. This statement suggests an expectation of legislative action on agricultural policy before the end of the current congressional term. The farm bill is a comprehensive piece of legislation that is typically reauthorized every five years, covering a wide range of programs related to agriculture, food, and rural development. These programs include commodity price supports, conservation initiatives, crop insurance, and food assistance programs. Hoeven's optimism comes as various stakeholders in the agricultural sector await clarity on the future of these critical policies. The lame duck session refers to the period between the election and the new Congress taking office, during which outgoing legislators may still vote on significant bills.

Ex-special counsel Smith tells senators he won't 'be silenced' by Trump's threats of prosecution

Ex-special counsel Smith tells senators he won't 'be silenced' by Trump's threats of prosecution

A former Justice Department special counsel who brought two federal indictments against President Donald Trump has told lawmakers he “will not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution” from the Trump administration

Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith forcefully defends investigations as Republicans assail his team's tactics

Ex-Trump prosecutor Smith forcefully defends investigations as Republicans assail his team's tactics

Former special counsel Jack Smith has forcefully defended his prosecutions of President Donald Trump and his investigative tactics

Republican Senator Wicker says US security commitments to Taiwan must be upheld

Republican Senator Wicker says US security commitments to Taiwan must be upheld

By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Republican US Senator and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker said Washington's security commitments to Taiwan must be upheld, following a meeting on Tuesday with Alexander Yui, the democratically governed island's representative to

Democratic National Committee Urged to Prioritize Campaign Finance Reform Over Middle East Policy Resolutions

Democratic National Committee Urged to Prioritize Campaign Finance Reform Over Middle East Policy Resolutions

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is being urged to focus its efforts on campaign finance reform rather than passing resolutions on Middle East policy. This call comes amidst observations that voter disaffection with the Biden administration's Middle East policy contributed to the Harris presidential campaign's loss in 2024, particularly among young voters, voters of color, and liberals. While these disaffected voters have supported progressive challengers in recent Congressional and Senate contests, the argument is made that the DNC's role is not to dictate Middle East policy. Instead, the DNC's primary function is to manage internal party affairs and the delegate selection process for the national convention. The article emphasizes that candidates in the U.S. largely run independently, controlling their own budgets and defining their own policies, unlike European parliamentary systems where parties enforce policy discipline. The significant influence of money in politics, particularly through Super...