KATE TYNAN

Budget/Appropriations: Support an economic assistance package for specialty crop growers from USDA and Congress. Advocate for changes to the way in which payments are administered under the USDA Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program through the appropriations process. Advocate against millet from being added to the definition of specialty crops through the House Farm Bill and through the appropriations process. Advocate for an appropriations provision that reverses the new 25 percent cost share requirement imposed by USDA on recipients of grants from the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Worked with House staff on appropriations provision to prohibit new H-2A prevailing wage determinations from being issued.

Food Safety: Pursue policy solutions for heavy metals in produce. Pursue policy revisions regarding imported produce. Pursue policy solutions at FDA to facilitate grower-led best practices development.

Labor: Advocate for regulatory reform of the H-2A program to make it less costly, and easier and more efficient to use. Advocate for regulatory reform of the H-2A prevailing wage rate, including its methodology and enforcement discretion to stop issuing new H-2A prevailing wage determinations until rulemaking is completed. Support development of legislation in Congress that reforms the H-2A program to make it more affordable and accessible to growers. Once this bill was introduced (H.R. 9535, the Securing Agricultures Workforce Act of 2026), advocated with the House Judiciary Committee and House Leadership to move the bill forward and for members of the House to cosponsor it. Worked with House staff on appropriations provision to prohibit new H-2A prevailing wage determinations from being issued.

Agriculture: Support an economic assistance package for specialty crop growers from USDA and Congress. Advocate for changes to the way in which payments are administered under the USDA Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers program, including through the appropriations process. Advocate against millet from being added to the definition of specialty crops through the House Farm Bill and through the appropriations process. Advocate for an appropriations provision that reverses the new 25 percent cost share requirement imposed by USDA on recipients of grants from the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. Advocate with the USDA Agricultural Research Service to proceed with the hiring process to fill scientists and support staff at the research facilities located in Wapato, Washington; Wenatchee, Washington; Prosser, Washington; and Hood River, Oregon.

Food Safety: Pursue policy solutions for heavy metals in produce. Pursue policy revisions regarding imported produce. Pursue policy revisions at FDA to focus resources on education and outreach. Pursue policy solutions at FDA to facilitate grower-led best practices development.

Agriculture: Support for passage of a skinny Farm Bill (no bill number) that includes revising a match requirement in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, establishing a new process for the National Organic Program to solicit stakeholder input on organic policy priorities, crop insurance revisions, and ensuring that the funds provided in H.R. 1 are specifically allocated to the Market Access Program. Support an economic assistance package for specialty crop growers from USDA or Congress. Solicitation of Congressional support for a USDA bonus purchase of fresh winter pears. Solicit congressional support for discretionary appropriations priorities within the Agricultural Research Service (including for the Areawide Pest Management program), the Office of Pest Management Policy, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, and National Agricultural Statistics Service within USDA; the Office of Foreign Labor Certification within DOL, the Office of Pesticide Programs within EPA, the United States Trade Representative, and several nutrition programs within the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the continuation of programs receiving mandatory funding through the Farm Bill that are priorities for the NHC.

Labor: Advocating for regulatory reform of the H-2A program to make it less costly, and easier and more efficient to use. Advocating for regulatory reform of the H-2A prevailing wage rate, including enforcement discretion to stop issuing new H-2A prevailing wage determinations until rulemaking is completed. Development of material to advocate for regulatory reform of H-2A productivity standards. Support development of legislation in Congress that reforms the H-2A program to make it more affordable and accessible for growers. Support appropriations rider to prohibit funding from being used to issue new H-2A prevailing wage determinations. Engaged through Agricultural Workforce Coalition on development of S. 4249, FARM Stability Act, related to the H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rate.

Budget/Appropriations: Solicit congressional support for discretionary appropriations priorities within the Agricultural Research Service (including for the Areawide Pest Management program), the Office of Pest Management Policy, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Marketing Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, and National Agricultural Statistics Service within USDA; the Office of Foreign Labor Certification within DOL, the Office of Pesticide Programs within EPA, the United States Trade Representative, FDA, and several nutrition programs within the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the continuation of programs receiving mandatory funding through the Farm Bill that are priorities for the NHC. Support appropriations rider to prohibit funding from being used to issue new H-2A prevailing wage determinations.

Communicated with Congressional staff regarding tree fruit trade priorities as it relates to the Trump Administration trade agenda.

Agriculture: Support for passage of a skinny Farm Bill (no bill number) that includes revising a match requirement in the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, establishing a new process for the National Organic Program to solicit stakeholder input on organic policy priorities, crop insurance revisions, and ensuring that funds provided in H.R. 1 are specifically allocated to the Market Access Program. Support an economic assistance package for specialty crop growers from USDA or Congress. Solicitation of Congressional support for a USDA bonus purchase of fresh winter pears. Solicit information and advocate for funding from the USDA Agricultural Research Service for a Little Cherry Disease area-wide project. Pursue policy solutions for heavy metals in produce Pursue policy solutions to reduce audit fatigue for produce growers.

Budget/Appropriations: Support for riders to the Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bill that address access and affordability of the H-2A program.

Food Safety: Support for FDA approaching heavy metal policy development and enforcement actions in a transparent manner that recognizes that heavy metals are naturally occurring in the environment and does not discourage consumption of healthful foods. Support for increasing funding for food safety education and outreach activities Support for enhancing FDA inspections for imported produce from sources tied to foodborne illness outbreaks.

Labor: Advocating for regulatory reform of the H-2A program to address cost (Adverse Effect Wage Rate, prevailing wage rate, housing requirements) and making the program easier and more efficient to use. Support the development of legislation that reforms the H-2A program to make the program affordable and accessible for growers. (No bill number.) Advocate for deeming H-2A process as an essential activity that would continue during a government shutdown. Advocate for DHS to work with H-2A employers to allow H-2A workers from Jamaica flexibility on their return date when a hurricane hit the country and shut down one of the major airports.

Request Congress to advocate with Administration to prioritize apple and cherry trade priorities for enhancing foreign market access.