Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act

Authorizations & Implementation Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act (S.3079/H.R.2468) 2024 Farm Bill (H.R. 8467) - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, Conservation Innovation Grants, Conservation Reserve Program, forest production, drought resilience, and climate resilience, conservation technical assistance; USDA U.S. Forest Service: National Forest System land adjustments, Forest Legacy Program, Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Landscape Scale Restoration Program, wildfire resilience, carbon markets, technical assistance to private forest landowners, private forest tax incentives, reforesting and restoring public forestland, forest connectivity and migration corridors, Urban and Community Forests program, forest products, forest and climate data, Good Neighbor Authority, forestry research; USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service: Rural Business Development Grants; USDA: Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, Local Agriculture Market Program, timber markets and trade. Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (H.R. 5045/S. 2620) Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S. 594 /H.R. 1317) Disaster Reforestation Act (H.R. 655/S. 217) Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 (S. 4753) Farmland Access Act (S.2507) Federal Excise Tax on sportfishing and archery equipment from foreign manufacturers Federal Highway Administration Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program - implementation Federal Solar Energy Guidelines - proposed Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2023 (H.R. 3424/S. 2631) Forest Legacy Management Flexibility Act (H.R. 9602) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024 (H.R. 7257/S. 3738) Incentivizing REPI Sales Act - proposed legislation Increasing Land, Access, Security, and Opportunities Act (H.R. 3955/S. 2340) Keep Americas Waterfronts Working Act (H.R. 6641) Land and Water Conservation Fund - implementation Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) Act (S.3754/H.R. 7289) National 30x30 (America the Beautiful) goal - to conserve 30% of lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (S.4638/H.R.8070) Department of Defense: Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (also known as Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program) National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience funding - implementation North American Grasslands Conservation Act - proposed legislation Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve (OMNP&P) Establishment Act (S. 4216/H.R. 8182) Real Estate Like-kind Exchanges (1031 exchanges) Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (S. 1149) Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act (S. 373/H.R. 913) State and Local Tax limitation - legislation (proposed) to exempt conservation donations from the State and Local Tax limitation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Wide Mitigation Policies Working Waterfronts Preservation Act (S. 3180)

Client expense: $145,400 · Firm income: Not reported

Government targets: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA), Army, Dept of (Corps of Engineers), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Commerce, Dept of (DOC), Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Defense, Dept of (DOD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Interior, Dept of (DOI), Natl Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Natl Park Service (NPS), SENATE, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service

H.R.1287 - Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023; support for increasing price discovery in cattle markets. H.R.945 - Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2023; support for providing assistance and expanding resources for small meat and poultry processors. H.R.1495 - Precision Agriculture Loan Act of 2023; support for providing low-interest agriculture loans to producers who adopt precision agriculture technologies. H.R.1459 - Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act of 2023; support for incentivizing the purchase and adoption of precision agriculture technologies under USDA programs. H.R.1249 - Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2023; support for reforms to USDA mandatory checkoff programs, prevent conflicts of interest, and increase transparency and oversight of checkoff dollars. H.R.1608 - Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023; support for provisions permitting the year-round sale of ethanol fuel blends above 10 percent. H.R.2434 - Next Generation Fuels Act of 2023; support for increasing the minimum research octane number (RON) at 98, requirements for added octane value reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent compared to regular gasoline. H.R.1840 - Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023; support for promoting emissions' reductions in agriculture, improve soil health, enhance resilience, and create new market opportunities. H.R.2723 - Local Farms and Food Act of 2023; support for farm programs that support the expansion of local and regional food systems. H.R.2728 - Young Farmer Success Act of 2023; support for making full-time farmers and ranchers eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. H.R.3478 - Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program Act of 2023; support for providing crop insurance premium discounts to producers who plant cover crops or use other practices that benefit soil health and reduce risk. H.R.3922 - Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023; support for new USDA programs that address availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. H.R.4239 - Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023; support for new block grant programs investing in long-term rural economic development projects. H.R.4288 - Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act of 2023; support for reaffirming EPA as the primary authority under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to make scientific findings on pesticides and prohibiting states imposing additional labeling or packaging requirements. H.R.5268 - America Grows Act of 2023; support for increasing funding for agricultural research at USDA research agencies. H.R.5389 - Livestock Research Consolidation Act of 2023; support for research into the impacts of livestock market consolidation on farmers, ranchers, and consumers. H.R.4327 - Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act of 2023; support for establishing a voluntary manure management conservation program. H.R.4979 - Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2023; support for establishing a moratorium on and review of agribusiness, food, and grocery mergers, reinstatement of country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork; updates to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act, funding for technical assistance and outreach for beginning, retired, and socially disadvantaged farmers; extended funding for Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), investments in supply chain infrastructure and processing facilities. H.R.5051 - Rural Energy for America Program Modernization Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP), increasing program cost-share, streamlining application processes, and increased programatic emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. H.R.5081 - Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2023; support for requiring beef products bearing "Made in the USA" or substantially similar labels be exclusively born, raised, slaughtered, and packaged in the United States. H.R.5604 - Agricultural Right to Repair Act of 2023; support for guaranteeing farmers complete access, on fair and reasonable terms, to fix their own farm equipment, and guaranteeing similar support to independent mechanics. H.R.6142 - Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments Act of 2023; support for a new competitive grants and loan program to advance connectivity across acreage and updates to quinquennial Census of Agriculture to include questions on adoption of broadband access services. H.R.6271 - Farm to Fly Act of 2023; support for affirming the definition of "Sustainable Aviation Fuel" and expanding opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel. H.R.6363 - Further Continuing Appropriations and Others Extensions Act, 2024; support for extending the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334). H.R.6379 - Farmers First Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing and increasing funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). H.R.6508 - Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023; support for incentives to automakers to manufacture flex fuel vehicles. H.R.4366 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024; opposition to restricting USDA rulemaking and enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, support for retaining funds from merger filing fees for antitrust enforcement. H.R.7444 - Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act of 2023; support for creating multiyear, flexible federal grant programs that better direct funding and technical assistance to rural communities. H.R.6661 - Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing USDA's Rural Cooperative and Development Grants (RCDG) to better serve underserved rural communities. H.R.3904 - Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act of 2023; support for aligning the definition of a beginning farmer with other programs, increasing premium subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers. H.R.7769 - Farm Transitions Act of 2024; support for establishing a commission at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study and make recommendations on the barriers to farm and agricultural land ownership and other challenges facing young and beginning farmers. H.R.8052 - Year-Round E15 Act of 2024; support for allowing the year-round sale of E15 in certain states in 2024. H.R.8544 - Fair Repair Act of 2024; support for requiring original equipment manufacturers making diagnostic, maintenance, and repair equipment available to independent repair providers. H.R.7046 - Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2024; support for freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) under the H-2A program to the rate in effect on December 31, 2023. H.R.530 - Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act; issues pertaining to limiting livestock auction market owners from holding an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of meatpacking plants. H.R.8467 - Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024; issues pertaining to passing a 2024 farm bill that supports family farmers and ranchers and strengthens food security. S.52 - American Beef Labeling Act of 2023; support for mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. S.228 - Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023; support for increasing price discovery in cattle markets. S.346 - Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023; support for establishing an office of the special investigator for competition matters at USDA. S.354 - Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2023; support for providing assistance and expanding resources for small meat and poultry processors. S.719 - Precision Agriculture Loan Act of 2023; support for providing low-interest agriculture loans to producers who adopt precision agriculture technologies. S.720 - Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act of 2023; support for incentivizing the purchase and adoption of precision agriculture technologies under USDA programs. S.785 - Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023; support for permitting the year-round sale of ethanol fuel blends above 10 percent. S.557 - Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2023; support for reforms to USDA mandatory checkoff programs, prevent conflicts of interest, and increase transparency and oversight of checkoff dollars. S.944 - Next Generation Fuels Act of 2023; support for increasing the minimum research octane number (RON) at 98, requirements for added octane value reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent compared to regular gasoline. S.901 - Safe American Food Exports Act of 2023; support for providing authority for USDA APHIS, FSIS, and FAS to preemptively negotiate regionalization agreements for known animal disease threats. S.1020 - Livestock Research Consolidation Act of 2023; support for research into the impacts of livestock market consolidation on farmers, ranchers, and consumers. S.1016 - Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023; support for promoting emissions' reductions in agriculture, improve soil health, enhance resilience, and create new market opportunities. S.1205 - Local Farms and Food Act of 2023; support for farm programs that support the expansion of local and regional food systems. S.1736 - Farmers First Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing and increasing funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). S.1690 - Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program Act of 2023; support for providing crop insurance premium discounts to producers who plant cover crops or use other practices that benefit soil health and reduce risk. S.1628 - America Grows Act of 2023; support for increasing funding for agricultural research at USDA research agencies. S.1867 - Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023; support for new USDA programs that address availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. S.2023 - Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act of 2023; support for increasing research and development into regionally adapted and publicly available seed varieties and animal breeds. S.2071 - Reliable Rail Service Act of 2023; support for statutorily defining common carrier obligations and establishing specific criteria for the STB to consider when assessing obligation violations by rail carriers. S.2155 - Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023; support for new block grant programs investing in long-term rural economic development projects. S.2452 - Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2023; support for updates to USDA's BioPreferred program, increases in federal procurement of biobased-only contracts and purchases. S.2479 - Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act of 2023; support for establishing a voluntary manure management conservation program. S.2542 - Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments Act of 2023; support for a new competitive grants and loan program to advance connectivity across acreage and updates to quinquennial Census of Agriculture to include questions on adoption of broadband access services. S.2594 - Rural Energy for America Program Modernization Act of 2023; support reauthorizing the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP), increasing program cost-share, streamlining application processes, and increasing program emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. S.2598 - Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program Improvement Act of 2023; support for improving access to the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) Program for small, mid-sized, beginning, specialty crop, and diversified producers. S.2635 - Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023; support for incentives to automakers to manufacture flex fuel vehicles. S.2670 - Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2023; support for establishing a moratorium on and review of agribusiness, food, and grocery mergers, reinstatement of country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork; updates to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act, funding for technical assistance and outreach for beginning, retired, and socially disadvantaged farmers, extended funding for Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), investments in supply chain infrastructure and processing facilities. S.2707 - Nationwide Consumer Fuel and Retailer Choice Act of 2023; support for permitting the year-round sale of ethanol fuel blends above 10 percent, prohibiting remove of 1-psi waiver for E10 ethanol. S.2890 - Producer and Agricultural Credit Enhancement Act of 2023; support adjusting USDA FSA loan limits, increasing options for distressed borrowers. S.3378 - Rural Energy Equity Act of 2023; support for improving access to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for small- and mid-sized producers. S.3497 - FARM Home Loans Act of 2023; support for modifying the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to modify rural housing financing to increase competition in the rural home mortgage market. S.J.Res. 62 - Disapproval of the Rule relating to "Importation of Fresh Beef from Paraguay"; support for reinstating the ban on beef imports from Paraguay. S.3309 - Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act of 2023; support for creating multiyear, flexible federal grant programs that better direct funding and technical assistance to rural communities. S.2458 - Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act of 2023; support for aligning the definition of a beginning farmer with other programs, increasing premium subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers. S.4018 - Farm Transitions Act of 2024; support for establishing a commission at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study and make recommendations on the barriers to farm and agricultural land ownership and other challenges facing young and beginning farmers. S.4422 - Fair Repair Act of 2024; support for requiring original equipment manufacturers making diagnostic, maintenance, and repair equipment available to independent repair providers. S.2340 - Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act of 2023; support for establishing a federal program that strengthens land, capital, and market access for beginning and underserved farmers and ranchers. S.Res.71 - A resolution supporting the designation of May 29, 2024, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to raise awareness around mental health in the agricultural industry and workforce and to continue to reduce stigma associated with mental illness; support for the resolution. S.3848 - Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2024; support for freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) under the H-2A program to the rate in effect on December 31, 2023. Issues other than legislation: Issues pertaining to the extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334). Issues pertaining to payment calculations under the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). Issues pertaining to adjusting farm program loan rates and price-based triggers to reflect commodity prices and input costs. Issues pertaining to creating a dual enrollment option for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). Issues pertaining to authorizing a voluntary update of base acres and yields for farm programs. Issues pertaining to disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers. Issues pertaining to crop insurance, including funding and prioritization. Issues pertaining to strengthening federal antitrust enforcement. Issues pertaining to strengthening protections for farmers and ranchers producing agricultural commodities under contract. Issues pertaining to strengthening product of the United States labeling standards. Issues pertaining to mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Issues pertaining to ensuring farmers, ranchers, and independent repair professionals have access to parts and service materials needed to repair farm equipment. Issues pertaining to strengthening Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting. Issues pertaining to improvements to meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to increase processing capacity. Issues pertaining to reforming checkoff programs to be producer controlled and regularly reviewed. Issues pertaining to balancing supply and demand for the dairy industry. Issues pertaining to support for higher-level blends of ethanol. Issues pertaining to support for sustainable aviation fuel. Issues pertaining to support for the development of renewable energy infrastructure. Issues pertaining to support for the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Issues pertaining to climate change and its impact in the agriculture, food, and forestry sectors. Issues pertaining to funding for climate-smart agriculture. Issues pertaining to funding for agricultural conservation programs and conservation technical assistance. Issues pertaining to funding for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. Issues pertaining to funding and support for investments in research, outreach, and education to support on-farm climate mitigation and adaptation. Issues pertaining to funding and support for cooperative development, the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program (RCDG), and Cooperative Development Centers Issues pertaining to funding and support for addressing farm stress and farmer mental health, including support for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Program (FRSAN). Issues pertaining to national crisis hotlines for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers. Issues pertaining to implementation and funding for broadband and high-speed internet in rural areas, including support for the ReConnect program. Issues pertaining to agriculture workforce and immigration reform. Issues pertaining to fair and predictable H-2A program wages. Issues pertaining to health and safety of farm workers and rural communities. Issues pertaining to the integrity of the National Organic Standards and the certified organic label. Issues pertaining to domestic nutrition assistance programs. Issues pertaining to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Issues pertaining to livestock animal identification rules. Issues pertaining to the labeling and use of pesticides. Issues pertaining to support for public agricultural research for regionally adapted and publicly available seed varieties and animal breeds. Issues pertaining to supporting beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through farm programs. Issues pertaining to the distribution, sale, and use of dicamba herbicide products. Issues pertaining to support for returning the Class I mover formula to the "higher-of" the Class III or IV calculations. Issues pertaining to conditions for make allowance changes in the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearings.

H.R.1287 - Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023; support for increasing price discovery in cattle markets. H.R.945 - Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2023; support for providing assistance and expanding resources for small meat and poultry processors. H.R.1495 - Precision Agriculture Loan Act of 2023; support for providing low-interest agriculture loans to producers who adopt precision agriculture technologies. H.R.1459 - Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act of 2023; support for incentivizing the purchase and adoption of precision agriculture technologies under USDA programs. H.R.1249 - Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2023; support for reforms to USDA mandatory checkoff programs, prevent conflicts of interest, and increase transparency and oversight of checkoff dollars. H.R.1608 - Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023; support for provisions permitting the year-round sale of ethanol fuel blends above 10 percent. H.R.2434 - Next Generation Fuels Act of 2023; support for increasing the minimum research octane number (RON) at 98, requirements for added octane value reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent compared to regular gasoline. H.R.1840 - Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023; support for promoting emissions' reductions in agriculture, improve soil health, enhance resilience, and create new market opportunities. H.R.2723 - Local Farms and Food Act of 2023; support for farm programs that support the expansion of local and regional food systems. H.R.2728 - Young Farmer Success Act of 2023; support for making full-time farmers and ranchers eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. H.R.3478 - Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program Act of 2023; support for providing crop insurance premium discounts to producers who plant cover crops or use other practices that benefit soil health and reduce risk. H.R.3922 - Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023; support for new USDA programs that address availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. H.R.4239 - Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023; support for new block grant programs investing in long-term rural economic development projects. H.R.4288 - Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act of 2023; support for reaffirming EPA as the primary authority under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to make scientific findings on pesticides and prohibiting states imposing additional labeling or packaging requirements. H.R.5268 - America Grows Act of 2023; support for increasing funding for agricultural research at USDA research agencies. H.R.5389 - Livestock Research Consolidation Act of 2023; support for research into the impacts of livestock market consolidation on farmers, ranchers, and consumers. H.R.4327 - Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act of 2023; support for establishing a voluntary manure management conservation program. H.R.4979 - Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2023; support for establishing a moratorium on and review of agribusiness, food, and grocery mergers, reinstatement of country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork; updates to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act, funding for technical assistance and outreach for beginning, retired, and socially disadvantaged farmers; extended funding for Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), investments in supply chain infrastructure and processing facilities. H.R.5051 - Rural Energy for America Program Modernization Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP), increasing program cost-share, streamlining application processes, and increased programatic emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. H.R.5081 - Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act of 2023; support for requiring beef products bearing "Made in the USA" or substantially similar labels be exclusively born, raised, slaughtered, and packaged in the United States. H.R.5604 - Agricultural Right to Repair Act of 2023; support for guaranteeing farmers complete access, on fair and reasonable terms, to fix their own farm equipment, and guaranteeing similar support to independent mechanics. H.R.6142 - Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments Act of 2023; support for a new competitive grants and loan program to advance connectivity across acreage and updates to quinquennial Census of Agriculture to include questions on adoption of broadband access services. H.R.6271 - Farm to Fly Act of 2023; support for affirming the definition of "Sustainable Aviation Fuel" and expanding opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel. H.R.6363 - Further Continuing Appropriations and Others Extensions Act, 2024; support for extending the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334). H.R.6379 - Farmers First Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing and increasing funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). H.R.6508 - Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023; support for incentives to automakers to manufacture flex fuel vehicles. H.R.4366 - Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024; opposition to restricting USDA rulemaking and enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, support for retaining funds from merger filing fees for antitrust enforcement. H.R.7444 - Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act of 2023; support for creating multiyear, flexible federal grant programs that better direct funding and technical assistance to rural communities. H.R.6661 - Strengthening Rural Cooperatives and Communities Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing USDA's Rural Cooperative and Development Grants (RCDG) to better serve underserved rural communities. H.R.3904 - Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act of 2023; support for aligning the definition of a beginning farmer with other programs, increasing premium subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers. H.R.7769 - Farm Transitions Act of 2024; support for establishing a commission at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study and make recommendations on the barriers to farm and agricultural land ownership and other challenges facing young and beginning farmers. H.R.8052 - Year-Round E15 Act of 2024; support for allowing the year-round sale of E15 in certain states in 2024. H.R.8544 - Fair Repair Act of 2024; support for requiring original equipment manufacturers making diagnostic, maintenance, and repair equipment available to independent repair providers. H.R.7046 - Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2024; support for freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) under the H-2A program to the rate in effect on December 31, 2023. H.R.8467 - Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024; issues pertaining to passing a 2024 farm bill that supports family farmers and ranchers and strengthens food security. S.52 - American Beef Labeling Act of 2023; support for mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef. S.228 - Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023; support for increasing price discovery in cattle markets. S.346 - Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act of 2023; support for establishing an office of the special investigator for competition matters at USDA. S.354 - Strengthening Local Processing Act of 2023; support for providing assistance and expanding resources for small meat and poultry processors. S.719 - Precision Agriculture Loan Act of 2023; support for providing low-interest agriculture loans to producers who adopt precision agriculture technologies. S.720 - Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment Act of 2023; support for incentivizing the purchase and adoption of precision agriculture technologies under USDA programs. S.785 - Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2023; support for permitting the year-round sale of ethanol fuel blends above 10 percent. S.557 - Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act of 2023; support for reforms to USDA mandatory checkoff programs, prevent conflicts of interest, and increase transparency and oversight of checkoff dollars. S.944 - Next Generation Fuels Act of 2023; support for increasing the minimum research octane number (RON) at 98, requirements for added octane value reduce carbon emissions by at least 40 percent compared to regular gasoline. S.901 - Safe American Food Exports Act of 2023; support for providing authority for USDA APHIS, FSIS, and FAS to preemptively negotiate regionalization agreements for known animal disease threats. S.1020 - Livestock Research Consolidation Act of 2023; support for research into the impacts of livestock market consolidation on farmers, ranchers, and consumers. S.1016 - Agriculture Resilience Act of 2023; support for promoting emissions' reductions in agriculture, improve soil health, enhance resilience, and create new market opportunities. S.1205 - Local Farms and Food Act of 2023; support for farm programs that support the expansion of local and regional food systems. S.1736 - Farmers First Act of 2023; support for reauthorizing and increasing funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN). S.1690 - Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program Act of 2023; support for providing crop insurance premium discounts to producers who plant cover crops or use other practices that benefit soil health and reduce risk. S.1628 - America Grows Act of 2023; support for increasing funding for agricultural research at USDA research agencies. S.1867 - Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act of 2023; support for new USDA programs that address availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. S.2023 - Seeds and Breeds for the Future Act of 2023; support for increasing research and development into regionally adapted and publicly available seed varieties and animal breeds. S.2071 - Reliable Rail Service Act of 2023; support for statutorily defining common carrier obligations and establishing specific criteria for the STB to consider when assessing obligation violations by rail carriers. S.2155 - Rebuild Rural America Act of 2023; support for new block grant programs investing in long-term rural economic development projects. S.2452 - Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act of 2023; support for updates to USDA's BioPreferred program, increases in federal procurement of biobased-only contracts and purchases. S.2479 - Converting Our Waste Sustainably Act of 2023; support for establishing a voluntary manure management conservation program. S.2542 - Linking Access to Spur Technology for Agriculture Connectivity in Rural Environments Act of 2023; support for a new competitive grants and loan program to advance connectivity across acreage and updates to quinquennial Census of Agriculture to include questions on adoption of broadband access services. S.2594 - Rural Energy for America Program Modernization Act of 2023; support reauthorizing the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP), increasing program cost-share, streamlining application processes, and increasing program emphasis on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. S.2598 - Whole Farm Revenue Protection Program Improvement Act of 2023; support for improving access to the Whole Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) Program for small, mid-sized, beginning, specialty crop, and diversified producers. S.2635 - Flex Fuel Fairness Act of 2023; support for incentives to automakers to manufacture flex fuel vehicles. S.2670 - Fairness for Small-Scale Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2023; support for establishing a moratorium on and review of agribusiness, food, and grocery mergers, reinstatement of country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork; updates to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act, funding for technical assistance and outreach for beginning, retired, and socially disadvantaged farmers, extended funding for Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP), investments in supply chain infrastructure and processing facilities. S.2707 - Nationwide Consumer Fuel and Retailer Choice Act of 2023; support for permitting the year-round sale of ethanol fuel blends above 10 percent, prohibiting remove of 1-psi waiver for E10 ethanol. S.2890 - Producer and Agricultural Credit Enhancement Act of 2023; support adjusting USDA FSA loan limits, increasing options for distressed borrowers. S.3378 - Rural Energy Equity Act of 2023; support for improving access to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for small- and mid-sized producers. S.3497 - FARM Home Loans Act of 2023; support for modifying the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to modify rural housing financing to increase competition in the rural home mortgage market. S.J.Res. 62 - Disapproval of the Rule relating to "Importation of Fresh Beef from Paraguay"; support for reinstating the ban on beef imports from Paraguay. S.3309 - Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act of 2023; support for creating multiyear, flexible federal grant programs that better direct funding and technical assistance to rural communities. S.2458 - Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act of 2023; support for aligning the definition of a beginning farmer with other programs, increasing premium subsidies for beginning and veteran farmers. S.4018 - Farm Transitions Act of 2024; support for establishing a commission at the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study and make recommendations on the barriers to farm and agricultural land ownership and other challenges facing young and beginning farmers. S.4422 - Fair Repair Act of 2024; support for requiring original equipment manufacturers making diagnostic, maintenance, and repair equipment available to independent repair providers. S.2340 - Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act of 2023; support for establishing a federal program that strengthens land, capital, and market access for beginning and underserved farmers and ranchers. S.Res.71 - A resolution supporting the designation of May 29, 2024, as "Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day" to raise awareness around mental health in the agricultural industry and workforce and to continue to reduce stigma associated with mental illness; support for the resolution. S.3848 - Supporting Farm Operations Act of 2024; support for freezing the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) under the H-2A program to the rate in effect on December 31, 2023. Issues other than legislation: Issues pertaining to the extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-334). Issues pertaining to payment calculations under the Emergency Relief Program (ERP). Issues pertaining to adjusting farm program loan rates and price-based triggers to reflect commodity prices and input costs. Issues pertaining to creating a dual enrollment option for Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). Issues pertaining to authorizing a voluntary update of base acres and yields for farm programs. Issues pertaining to disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers. Issues pertaining to crop insurance, including funding and prioritization. Issues pertaining to strengthening federal antitrust enforcement. Issues pertaining to strengthening protections for farmers and ranchers producing agricultural commodities under contract. Issues pertaining to strengthening product of the United States labeling standards. Issues pertaining to mandatory country-of-origin labeling. Issues pertaining to ensuring farmers, ranchers, and independent repair professionals have access to parts and service materials needed to repair farm equipment. Issues pertaining to strengthening Livestock Mandatory Price Reporting. Issues pertaining to improvements to meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities to increase processing capacity. Issues pertaining to reforming checkoff programs to be producer controlled and regularly reviewed. Issues pertaining to balancing supply and demand for the dairy industry. Issues pertaining to support for higher-level blends of ethanol. Issues pertaining to support for sustainable aviation fuel. Issues pertaining to support for the development of renewable energy infrastructure. Issues pertaining to support for the Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Issues pertaining to climate change and its impact in the agriculture, food, and forestry sectors. Issues pertaining to funding for climate-smart agriculture. Issues pertaining to funding for agricultural conservation programs and conservation technical assistance. Issues pertaining to funding for the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative. Issues pertaining to funding and support for investments in research, outreach, and education to support on-farm climate mitigation and adaptation. Issues pertaining to funding and support for cooperative development, the Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program (RCDG), and Cooperative Development Centers Issues pertaining to funding and support for addressing farm stress and farmer mental health, including support for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Program (FRSAN). Issues pertaining to national crisis hotlines for farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers. Issues pertaining to implementation and funding for broadband and high-speed internet in rural areas, including support for the ReConnect program. Issues pertaining to agriculture workforce and immigration reform. Issues pertaining to fair and predictable H-2A program wages. Issues pertaining to health and safety of farm workers and rural communities. Issues pertaining to the integrity of the National Organic Standards and the certified organic label. Issues pertaining to domestic nutrition assistance programs. Issues pertaining to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Issues pertaining to livestock animal identification rules. Issues pertaining to the labeling and use of pesticides. Issues pertaining to support for public agricultural research for regionally adapted and publicly available seed varieties and animal breeds. Issues pertaining to supporting beginning, veteran, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers through farm programs. Issues pertaining to the distribution, sale, and use of dicamba herbicide products. Issues pertaining to support for returning the Class I mover formula to the "higher-of" the Class III or IV calculations. Issues pertaining to conditions for make allowance changes in the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearings.

Authorizations & Implementation Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act (S.3079/H.R.2468) 2024 Farm Bill (H.R. 8467) - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, Conservation Innovation Grants, Conservation Reserve Program, forest production, drought resilience, and climate resilience, conservation technical assistance; USDA U.S. Forest Service: National Forest System land adjustments, Forest Legacy Program, Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Landscape Scale Restoration Program, wildfire resilience, carbon markets, technical assistance to private forest landowners, private forest tax incentives, reforesting and restoring public forestland, forest connectivity and migration corridors, Urban and Community Forests program, forest products, forest and climate data, Good Neighbor Authority, forestry research; USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service: Rural Business Development Grants; USDA: Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, Local Agriculture Market Program, timber markets and trade. Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (H.R. 5045/S. 2620) Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S. 594 /H.R. 1317) Disaster Reforestation Act (H.R. 655/S. 217) Farmland Access Act (S.2507) Federal Highway Administration Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program - implementation Federal Solar Energy Guidelines - proposed Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2023 (H.R. 3424/S. 2631) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024 (H.R. 7257/S. 3738) Incentivizing REPI Sales Act - proposed legislation Increasing Land, Access, Security, and Opportunities Act (H.R. 3955/S. 2340) Keep Americas Waterfronts Working Act (H.R. 6641) Land and Water Conservation Fund - implementation Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) Act (S.3754/H.R. 7289) National 30x30 (America the Beautiful) goal - to conserve 30% of lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (S.4638/H.R.8070) Department of Defense: Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (also known as Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program) National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience funding - implementation Ocmulgee Mounds National Park and Preserve (OMNP&P) Establishment Act (S 4216/H.R. 8182) Real Estate Like-kind Exchanges (1031 exchanges) Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (S. 1149) Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act (S. 373/H.R. 913) State and Local Tax limitation - legislation (proposed) to exempt conservation donations from the State and Local Tax limitation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Wide Mitigation Policies Working Waterfronts Preservation Act (S. 3180)

Authorizations & Implementation Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act (S.3079/H.R.2468) The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2023 (2023 Farm Bill). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, Conservation Innovation Grants, Conservation Reserve Program, forest production, drought resilience, and climate resilience, conservation technical assistance; USDA U.S. Forest Service: National Forest System land adjustments, Forest Legacy Program, Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Landscape Scale Restoration Program, wildfire resilience, carbon markets, technical assistance to private forest landowners, private forest tax incentives, reforesting and restoring public forestland, forest connectivity and migration corridors, Urban and Community Forests program, forest products, forest and climate data, Good Neighbor Authority, forestry research; USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service: Rural Business Development Grants; USDA: Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, Local Agriculture Market Program, timber markets and trade. Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (H.R. 5045/S. 2620) Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S. 594 /H.R. 1317) Farmland Access Act (S.2507) Federal Highway Administration Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program - implementation Federal Solar Energy Guidelines - proposed Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2023 (H.R. 3424/S. 2631) Increasing Land, Access, Security, and Opportunities Act (H.R. 3955/S. 2340) Keep Americas Waterfronts Working Act (H.R. 6641) Land and Water Conservation Fund - implementation Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) Act (S.3754/H.R. 7289) National 30x30 (America the Beautiful) goal - to conserve 30% of lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Defense: Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (also known as Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program) National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience funding - implementation Real Estate Like-kind Exchanges (1031 exchanges) Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (S. 1149) Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act (S. 373/H.R. 913) State and Local Tax limitation - legislation (proposed) to exempt conservation donations from the State and Local Tax limitation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Wide Mitigation Policies Working Waterfronts Preservation Act (S. 3180)

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2023 (2023 Farm Bill). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, Conservation Innovation Grants, Conservation Reserve Program, forest production, drought resilience, and climate resilience, conservation technical assistance; USDA U.S. Forest Service: National Forest System land adjustments, Forest Legacy Program, Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Landscape Scale Restoration Program, wildfire resilience, carbon markets, technical assistance to private forest landowners, private forest tax incentives, reforesting and restoring public forestland, forest connectivity and migration corridors, Urban and Community Forests program, forest products, forest and climate data, Good Neighbor Authority, forestry research; USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service: Rural Business Development Grants; USDA: Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, Local Agriculture Market Program, timber markets and trade. Chesapeake Bay National Recreation Area designation - potential legislation Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S. 594 /H.R. 1317) Farmland Access Act (S.2507) Federal Highway Administration Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program - implementation Federal Solar Energy Guidelines - proposed Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2023 (H.R. 3424/S. 2631) Increasing Land, Access, Security, and Opportunities Act (H.R. 3955/S. 2340) Keep Americas Waterfronts Working Act (H.R. 6641) Land and Water Conservation Fund - implementation Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act National 30x30 (America the Beautiful) goal - to conserve 30% of lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670/S. 2226) - Department of Defense: Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (also known as Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program) National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience funding - implementation Real Estate Like-kind Exchanges (1031 exchanges) Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (S. 1149) Reinvesting in Shoreline Economics and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act (S. 373) State and Local Tax limitation - legislation (proposed) to exempt conservation donations from the State and Local Tax limitation U.S. Department of the Interior - confirmation of Laura Daniel-Davis as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) regarding Compensatory Mitigation Mechanisms U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Intent to prepare a National Environmental Policy Act document on Migratory Bird Permits, Authorizing Incidental Take of Migratory Birds (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021_0105). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Wide Mitigation Policies U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Compensatory Mitigation Policy Working Waterfronts Preservation Act (S. 3180)

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2023 (2023 Farm Bill). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Environmental Quality Incentive Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, Conservation Innovation Grants, Conservation Reserve Program, forest production, drought resilience, and climate resilience, conservation technical assistance; USDA U.S. Forest Service: National Forest System land adjustments, Forest Legacy Program, Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, Forest Stewardship Program, Landscape Scale Restoration Program, wildfire resilience, carbon markets, technical assistance to private forest landowners, private forest tax incentives, reforesting and restoring public forestland, forest connectivity and migration corridors, Urban and Community Forests program, forest products, forest and climate data, Good Neighbor Authority, forestry research; USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture: Community Food Projects Competitive Grants Program; USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service: Rural Business Development Grants; USDA: Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Program, Local Agriculture Market Program, timber markets and trade. Chesapeake Bay National Recreation Area designation - potential legislation Continental Divide Trail Completion Act (S. 594 /H.R. 1317) Farmland Access Act (S.2507) Federal Highway Administration Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program - implementation Federal Solar Energy Guidelines - proposed Forest Conservation Easement Program Act of 2023 (H.R. 3424/S. 2631) Increasing Land, Access, Security, and Opportunities Act (H.R. 3955/S. 2340) Land and Water Conservation Fund - implementation Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act National 30x30 (America the Beautiful) goal - to conserve 30% of lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670/S. 2226) - Department of Defense: Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (also known as Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program) National Park Service Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Investing in Coastal Communities and Climate Resilience funding - implementation Real Estate Like-kind Exchanges (1031 exchanges) Recovering Americas Wildlife Act (S. 1149) Reinvesting in Shoreline Economics and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act (S. 373) State and Local Tax limitation - legislation (proposed) to exempt conservation donations from the State and Local Tax limitation U.S. Department of the Interior - confirmation of Laura Daniel-Davis as Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) regarding Compensatory Mitigation Mechanisms U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Intent to prepare a National Environmental Policy Act document on Migratory Bird Permits, Authorizing Incidental Take of Migratory Birds (Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2021_0105). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Wide Mitigation Policies U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Compensatory Mitigation Policy