IAC Policy Update: Engage USDA and Members of Congress on Issues Important to Tribal Producers - Upcoming Policy Dates and Deadlines
- kalli70
- Sep 4
- 3 min read
September 12, 2025: Senator Murkowski Seeks Public Input on Discussion Draft of “Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2025”
What is a Discussion Draft of the “Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2025”: The Discussion Draft is text for a bill that Senator Murkowski plans to introduce but is seeking public input before doing so. Comments are due to Sen. Murkowski’s office by Sep. 12, 2025 at Murkowski_Outreach@Indian.Senate.Gov. IAC will be providing comment and invites producers and Tribes to share their thoughts directly with IAC or with Sen. Murkowski’s office.
What is covered in the Native Children’s Commission Implementation Act of 2025: The draft legislation addresses a wide range of issues affecting Native children and families, including child welfare, justice, physical, behavioral, and environmental health, housing and homelessness, education, child care, and the expansion of research and data capabilities. Specific to agricultural considerations the bill includes:
638 authority for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), which would allow Tribes to choose to administer FDPIR
638 authority for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which would allow Tribes to choose to administer SNAP
A new pilot 638 program to allow Alaska Native regional corporations and the Metlakatla Indian Community to administer SNAP
Authorization and expansion of the Child Nutrition Programs Tribal Pilot Projects, which was first established in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024.
Provisions to improve data collection, Tribal data sovereignty, and use of Traditional Ecological Practices. Note however that IAC will be submitting comment recommending improvements to these provisions to better capture Tribal agricultural data and needs.
September 18, 2025: USDA Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC) Meeting (Virtual)
What is the USDA TAC? An advisory committee established pursuant to the 2018 Farm Bill to advise the Secretary of Agriculture on matters relating to Tribal and Indian Affairs and represent a diverse set of expertise on issues relating to geographic regions, Indian Tribes, and the agricultural industry. USDA encourages nominees reflect the broad slate of what makes American agriculture great including but not limited to farmers/ranchers, food businesses, subsistence foragers, foresters, agriculture educators and land-grant faculty/staff, extension and technical assistance specialists, agriculture financiers (banks and credit institutions), Tribal leaders and Tribal government officials, and agriculture/forestry law experts. The role of the Committee is to facilitate and not supplant government-to-government consultation.
How to join: Meeting information will be updated on the TAC website here.
Who can join the meeting: Members of the public may attend TAC meetings. Generally, a limited amount of time during a TAC meeting is made available for a public comment period when members of the public may offer statements for consideration by the TAC.
September 22, 2025: USDA announced a call for nominations to serve on the Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC). *Nominations must be submitted by September 22, 2025
How to Nominate Individuals: Notice to Solicit Nominations for Membership provides additional information and instructions on how to submit nominations.
September 30, 2025: Comment Deadline for USDA Reorganization Plan
What is the USDA Reorganization Plan: On August 1, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the opening of a public comment period for stakeholders to provide feedback on the Department’s reorganization plan, as outlined in the Secretary’s memorandum issued on July 24, 2025. According to USDA, the reorganization plan seeks to consolidate operations, including closing the USDA South Building in Washington, D.C., and relocating approximately 2,600 Washington-based positions to five regional hubs: Raleigh, NC; Kansas City, MO; Indianapolis, IN; Fort Collins, CO; and Salt Lake City, UT.
Impact to Indian Country: At this time, it is unclear how the reorganization plan will impact Indian Country, from the organization of the Office of Tribal Relations to the accessibility of operational staff familiar with issues unique to Indian Country, Tribal jurisdiction, and Tribal producers. At this time, Tribal Consultation has not yet been scheduled.
Comment Period: All stakeholders, including USDA employees, members of Congress, and agricultural and nutrition partners, are encouraged to provide feedback by emailing reorganization@usda.gov. The comment period is open through September 30, 2025.
Template Comments Available: Are you a Tribe or Tribal producer interested in submitting a comment to USDA about USDA’s planned reorganization? The Intertribal Agriculture Council has template letters available that you may tailor to meet your needs as a commenter. The template letter for Tribal producers can be accessed here, and the template letter for Tribal leaders can be accessed here.
Native Farm Bill Coalition Submitted Comment: On August 26, 2025, the Native Farm Bill Coalition submitted a comment to USDA’s Secretary Rollins underscoring the need for Tribal consultation around USDA’s reorganization plan to better understand and inform USDA as to how its plans may impact Tribal producers and agriculture operations in Indian Country. IAC will also be submitting comments.
