Puppy Protection Act of 2025

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Issues related to animal welfare, including H.R. 3112/S. 1538 - Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 and H.R. 2253 - Puppy Protection Act of 2025. Budget/Appropriations: Issues related to funding for programs concerning animal welfare.

Reported lobbying issue

Trade (domestic/foreign): 1. APHIS facility inspections and approvals with regard to foreign market access, general market access and export issues, including export certificates for animal products. 2. General efforts to prevent diseases, like African Swine Fever (ASF) and New World Screwworm from entering the U.S. 3. General tariff and trade disrupting issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 4. Supports addressing and finding solutions to the ongoing challenges impacting our nation's food and agricultural supply chains, specifically as it relates to the pet food industry. 5. Supports uninterrupted trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada to provide access to the goods they need, including pet food. 6. Supports U.S. agricultural export promotion and long-term market development. Specifically, H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 7. Supports strengthening multilateral trade rules on agriculture that promotes resilient, adaptive, and innovative agricultural markets. 8. Supports the renewal and strengthening of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and emphasizes the importance of USTRs continued engagement with business and agricultural stakeholders throughout the review. 9. Supports the critical importance of USDAs participation within international venues that are responsible for setting global standards for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Agriculture: 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 3. General efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), African Swine Fever (ASF) and New World Screwworm (NWS). 4. Supportive of H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 5. Concerned that the United States vitamin manufacturing is nearly non-existent, leaving it reliant on imports from China which dominates global vitamin manufacturing. This action has created a dependency that poses a significant threat to our national food security, agricultural community, and public health. Supports Congressional efforts and the Trump Administration to lessen the overreliance on China for the production of critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture. 6. Supports Beth Bechdol, candidate for Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 7. Supports the inclusion of the Healthy Dog Importation Act (HDIA) and several additional animal‑health measures in H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (the Farm Bill). 8. Supports the Senate draft Farm Bill, which includes key priorities for the U.S. pet food industry, including provisions to strengthen animal health protections, support safe ingredient sourcing, bolster the global competitiveness of U.S. pet food producers, while supporting Americas farmers who are essential to the supply chain. 9. Supports H.R. 8646: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act of 2027. Budget/Appropriations: 1. Supports $1.877 billion in total funding for USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for Fiscal Year 2027. 2. Supports $500 million in funding for USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program for Fiscal Year 2027. 3. Supports $1 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) in Fiscal Year 2027. 4. Supports $2.5 million in FY 2027 for both aflatoxin and vomitoxin research, respectively, through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). 5. Supports $5 million for the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in FY 2027 to fully staff the animal food ingredient review team and provide IT assistance necessary to conduct animal food ingredient reviews in a timely manner. 6. Supports the workforce needed to ensure that FDA and USDA to operate efficiently and regulate product submissions in a timely manner for FY2027: - $27 million for the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) to maintain the Centers ability to review & approve veterinary biologics and vaccines to bring these products to market. - $34 million in user fees established by the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). - $5 million for safety of post approval products including global harmonization, pharmacovigilance and unapproved drugs, with a specific request of an increase of $2 million for CVM specific technology enhancements for animal health pharmacovigilance. - $147.1 million for the Pesticides Licensing Program within the Environmental Programs and Management Account. - $4.9 million for the U.S. Codex Office. - $33 million for the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program (NRMP). 7. Supports H.R. 8646: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act of 2027. 8. Concerned about the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railroad and urges the US Congress to ensure the Surface Transportation Board conducts a comprehensive and rigorous review of the proposed merger as Congress considers funding in the FY2027 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act. Animals: 1. General pet food and related pet welfare issues, including the continuation of the Congressional Pet Caucus. 2. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 3. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 4. Opposes federal mandates or incentives promoting renewable fuel production that use essential animal- and plant-based fats and oils necessary for complete and balanced nutrition in pet food formulations. 5. Supports general efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), African Swine Fever (ASF) and New World Screwworm (NWS) in the United States. 6. Supports general efforts to keep companion animals safe and healthy, specifically H.R. 237: Paws Off Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem foods containing xylitol as misbranded unless the label or labeling of such foods contains a warning specifying the toxic effects of xylitol for dogs if ingested. 7. Supports H.R. 2253: Puppy Protection Act of 2025; Requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs. 8. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 9. Supportive of H.R. 2203: Innovative FEED Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances. 10. Supports H.R. 3732 and S. 1939: The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act; To provide protections for good faith donations of pet food and supplies. 11. Supports H.R. 3349 and S. 1725: The Healthy Dog Importation Act (HDIA); To amend the Animal Health Protection Act with respect to the importation of live dogs to address the current gaps in oversight and prioritizes the prevention of disease introduction from imported dogs that threatens both animal and public health. Supports the inclusion of HDIA and several additional animal‑health measures in H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (the Farm Bill). 12. Concerned about the United States vitamin manufacturing is nearly non-existent, leaving it reliant on imports from China which dominates global vitamin manufacturing. This action has created a dependency that poses a significant threat to our national food security, agricultural community, and public health. Supports Congressional efforts and the Trump Administration to lessen the overreliance on China for the production of critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture. 13. Provided public comments on the nutritional needs of breeding female dogs and the importance of socialization and exercise for canine welfare. Transportation: 1. General interest in transportation issues related to pet food manufacturing and other agriculture stakeholders, including efforts to alleviate any export shipping challenges. 2. Supports efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Supports HR 8870: Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America's 250th Act or the BUILD America 250 Act, which authorizes federal surface transportation (highway, public transportation, and rail) programs and activities through FY2031. Trucking/Shipping: 1. General interest in trucking/shipping issues or other supply chain challenges that continue to affect pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Supports general efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. Fuel/Gas/Oil: 1. Opposed to mandating or encouraging the use of feedstocks such as animal- and plant-based fats and oils that are historically used in human and pet food, as a significant source of renewable fuels. 2. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. 3. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 4. Asks EPA to consider partnering with USDA to conduct a thorough analysis of the impact of the use of renewable fuels on the price and supply of agricultural commodities and food prices. 5. Continue to be concerned about the significant increase in biomass-based diesel (BBD) volume requirements in EPAs Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027 along with the new proposal to cut the Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) in half for imported renewable fuels and feedstocks in 2028. Respectfully requests that the EPA carefully consider the competition of limited resources for food, feed, and fuel in the United States as they start working on the RFS for 2028 and beyond. Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills): 1. Interest in general tariff issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 2. Supports the Trump Administrations objectives of safeguarding national security and promoting American manufacturing but concerned about the Section 232 steel and aluminum Inclusions Process. Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries: 1. General interest in shipping issues or other supply chain challenges affecting pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Railroads: 1. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 2. Support federal lawmakers pursuing targeted, data-driven improvements to rail safety while avoiding concerning provisions contained in the Railway Safety Act (RSA) that could unintentionally disrupt agricultural supply chains. 3. Concerned about the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railroad and urges the US Congress to ensure the Surface Transportation Board conducts a comprehensive and rigorous review of the proposed merger as Congress considers funding in the FY2027 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act. 4. Supports HR 8870: Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America's 250th Act or the BUILD America 250 Act, which authorizes federal surface transportation (highway, public transportation, and rail) programs and activities through FY2031. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: 1. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 2. Supportive of S. 1163 and H.R. 2398: Rural Veterinary Workforce Act; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion for assistance provided to participants in certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness programs. 3. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel.

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2176 ("Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms Act of 2025") H.R. 2253/S. 4437 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") H.R. 2976 ("Cold-Blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act") H.R. 3112/S. 1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") H.R. 3349/S. 1725 ("Health Dog Importaton Act") H.R. 3525/S. 1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") H.R. 3806 ("New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025") H.R. 4921 ("Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2025") H.R. 5286 ("Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act") H.R. 5342 (Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act) H.R. 7371 ("No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026") H.R. 7438/S. 4558 ("PETSAFE Act of 2026") H.R. 7567 ("Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026") H.R. 8378/S. 4361 ("Pets Belong with Family Act") H.R. 8473/S. 620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act") H.R. 8627 ("Petfax Act of 2026") H.R. 8646 ("Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027") H.R. 9184/S. 4146 ("Local Data for Better Conservation Act") S.1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") S.1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") S.1725 ("Healthy Dog Importation Act") S.3552 ("HAULS Act of 2025") S. 4451 ("Wildlife Health Coordination and Zoonotic Disease Prevention Act of 2026")

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Issues related to animal welfare, including H.R. 3112/S. 1538 - Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025 and H.R. 2253 - Puppy Protection Act of 2025. Budget/Appropriations: Issues related to funding for programs concerning animal welfare.

Reported lobbying issue

Trade (domestic/foreign): 1. APHIS facility inspections and approvals with regard to foreign market access, general market access and export issues, including export certificates for animal products. 2. General efforts to prevent diseases, like African Swine Fever (ASF) and New World Screwworm from entering the U.S. 3. General tariff and trade disrupting issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 4. Supports addressing and finding solutions to the ongoing challenges impacting our nation's food and agricultural supply chains, specifically as it relates to the pet food industry. 5. Supports uninterrupted trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada to provide access to the goods they need, including pet food. 6. Supports U.S. agricultural export promotion and long-term market development. Specifically, H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 7. Supports strengthening multilateral trade rules on agriculture that promotes resilient, adaptive, and innovative agricultural markets. 8. Supports USMCAs extension and emphasize the importance of USTRs continued engagement with business and agricultural stakeholders throughout the review, and until the agreement is extended for another 16 years. Agriculture: 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 3. General efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF). 4. Supportive of H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 5. Concerned that the United States vitamin manufacturing is nearly non-existent, leaving it reliant on imports from China which dominates global vitamin manufacturing. This action has created a dependency that poses a significant threat to our national food security, agricultural community, and public health. Supports Congressional efforts and the Trump Administration to lessen the overreliance on China for the production of critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture. 6. Supports Beth Bechdol, candidate for Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 7. Supports the inclusion of the Healthy Dog Importation Act (HDIA) and several additional animal‑health measures in H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (the Farm Bill). Budget/Appropriations: 1. Supports $1.877 billion in total funding for USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for Fiscal Year 2027. 2. Supports $500 million in funding for USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program for Fiscal Year 2027. 3. Supports $1 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) in Fiscal Year 2027. 4. Supports $2.5 million in FY 2027 for both aflatoxin and vomitoxin research, respectively, through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). 5. Supports $5 million for the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in FY 2027 to fully staff the animal food ingredient review team and provide IT assistance necessary to conduct animal food ingredient reviews in a timely manner. 6. Supports the workforce needed to ensure that FDA and USDA to operate efficiently and regulate product submissions in a timely manner: - $27 million for the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) to maintain the Centers ability to review & approve veterinary biologics and vaccines to bring these products to market. - $34 million in user fees established by the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) be included in the FY27 agriculture appropriations bill. - $5 million for safety of post approval products including global harmonization, pharmacovigilance and unapproved drugs, with a specific request of an increase of $2 million for CVM specific technology enhancements for animal health pharmacovigilance. - $147.1 million for the Pesticides Licensing Program within the Environmental Programs and Management Account. - $4.9 million for the U.S. Codex Office. - $33 million for the USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services National Rabies Management Program (NRMP). Trucking/Shipping: 1. General interest in trucking/shipping issues or other supply chain challenges that continue to affect pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Supports general efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Animals: 1. General pet food and related pet welfare issues, including the continuation of the Congressional Pet Caucus. 2. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 3. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 4. Opposes federal mandates or incentives promoting renewable fuel production that use essential animal- and plant-based fats and oils necessary for complete and balanced nutrition in pet food formulations. 5. Supports general efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF) in the United States. 6. Supports general efforts to keep companion animals safe and healthy, specifically H.R. 237: Paws Off Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem foods containing xylitol as misbranded unless the label or labeling of such foods contains a warning specifying the toxic effects of xylitol for dogs if ingested. 7. Supports H.R. 2253: Puppy Protection Act of 2025; Requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs. 8. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 9. Supportive of H.R. 2203: Innovative FEED Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances. 10. Supports H.R. 3732 and S. 1939: The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act; To provide protections for good faith donations of pet food and supplies. 11. Supports H.R. 3349 and S. 1725: The Healthy Dog Importation Act (HDIA); To amend the Animal Health Protection Act with respect to the importation of live dogs to address the current gaps in oversight and prioritizes the prevention of disease introduction from imported dogs that threatens both animal and public health. Supports the inclusion of HDIA and several additional animal‑health measures in H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (the Farm Bill). 12. Concerned about the United States vitamin manufacturing is nearly non-existent, leaving it reliant on imports from China which dominates global vitamin manufacturing. This action has created a dependency that poses a significant threat to our national food security, agricultural community, and public health. Supports Congressional efforts and the Trump Administration to lessen the overreliance on China for the production of critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture. Transportation: 1. General interest in transportation issues related to pet food manufacturing and other agriculture stakeholders, including efforts to alleviate any export shipping challenges. 2. Supports efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. Fuel/Gas/Oil: 1. Opposed to mandating or encouraging the use of feedstocks such as animal- and plant-based fats and oils that are historically used in human and pet food, as a significant source of renewable fuels. 2. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. 3. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 4. Asks EPA to consider partnering with USDA to conduct a thorough analysis of the impact of the use of renewable fuels on the price and supply of agricultural commodities and food prices. 5. Continue to be concerned about the significant increase in biomass-based diesel (BBD) volume requirements in EPAs proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027 along with the new proposal to cut the Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) in half for imported renewable fuels and feedstocks in 2028. Respectfully requests that the EPA carefully consider the competition of limited resources for food, feed, and fuel in the United States as they start working on the RFS for 2028 and beyond. Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills): 1. Interest in general tariff issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 2. Supports the Trump Administrations objectives of safeguarding national security and promoting American manufacturing but concerned about the Section 232 steel and aluminum Inclusions Process. Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries: 1. General interest in shipping issues or other supply chain challenges affecting pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Railroads: 1. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 2. Support federal lawmakers pursuing targeted, data-driven improvements to rail safety while avoiding concerning provisions contained in the Railway Safety Act (RSA) that could unintentionally disrupt agricultural supply chains. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: 1. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 2. Supportive of S. 1163 and H.R. 2398: Rural Veterinary Workforce Act; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion for assistance provided to participants in certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness programs. 3. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel.

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2176 ("Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms Act of 2025") H.R. 2253 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") H.R. 2976 ("Cold-Blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act") H.R. 3112/S. 1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") H.R. 3349/S. 1725 ("Health Dog Importaton Act") H.R. 3525/S. 1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") H.R. 3806 ("New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025") H.R. 4921 ("Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2025") H.R. 5286 ("Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act") H.R. 5342 (Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act) H.R. 7371 ("No Flight, No Fight Act of 2026") H.R. 7438 ("PETSAFE Act of 2026") H.R. 7567 ("Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026") S.620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act") S.1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") S.1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") S.1725 ("Healthy Dog Importation Act") S.3552 ("HAULS Act of 2025") S.4146 ("Local Data for Better Conservation Act")

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Issues related to animal welfare, including H.R. 3732 - BARK Act of 2025; H.R. 3112/S. 1538 - Better CARE for Animals Act of 2025; H.R. 2253 - Puppy Protection Act of 2025; H.R. 1661/S. 775 - Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act; Issues related to Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations.

Reported lobbying issue

Trade (domestic/foreign): 1. APHIS facility inspections and approvals with regard to foreign market access, general market access and export issues, including export certificates for animal products. 2. General efforts to prevent diseases, like African Swine Fever (ASF) and New World Screwworm from entering the U.S. 3. General tariff and trade disrupting issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 4. Supports addressing and finding solutions to the ongoing challenges impacting our nation's food and agricultural supply chains, specifically as it relates to the pet food industry. 5. Supports uninterrupted trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada to provide access to the goods they need, including pet food. 6. General efforts for China market access and export registrations to China. Supports Economic Trade Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of the People's Republic of China. 7. Supports U.S. agricultural export promotion and long-term market development. Specifically, H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 8. Supports strengthening multilateral trade rules on agriculture that promotes resilient, adaptive, and innovative agricultural markets. 9. Supported Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 10. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We requested the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 11. Supported the nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. 12. Supports maintaining USDAs core international trade policy functions-including those within the Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA) and other relevant USDA staff-in Washington, D.C. Agriculture: 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 3. General efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF). 4. Supportive of H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 5. Supported Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 6. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. Requested the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 7. Supported Dudley Hoskins to be the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the US Department of Agriculture. 8. Supported passage of H.R. 4121: The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2026. 9. Supports passage of H.R. 4601: Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act; Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to amend certain regulations with respect to farm-related service industry restricted commercial drivers licenses. 10. Supports passage of S. 2909: Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act; Requires the Secretary of Transportation to revise certain regulations with respect to farm-related service industry restricted commercial drivers licenses. 11. Supported the National Organic Program: Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food published in late December 2024. This rule and associated regulations supported pet food makers by establishing a standard to allow the use of the USDA Organic seal on the labels of finished pet food products. Concerned about now rescinding the new rule, which we believe will be a step backwards by reintroducing a confusing and burdensome process that will continue to inhibit the growth of the organic pet food marketplace. 12. Supports maintaining USDAs core international trade policy functions-including those within the Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA) and other relevant USDA staff-in Washington, D.C. 13. Supports passage of H.R. 4585: Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act; Amends title 23, United States Code, to establish an agricultural and rural road improvement program. 14. Supports the nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. 15. Supports the key priorities in USDA's National Farm Security Action Plan and recognize USDAs Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) as the ideal agency to lead this effort. 16. Concerned about the fact that the United States vitamin manufacturing is nearly non-existent, leaving it reliant on imports from China which dominates global vitamin manufacturing. This action has created a dependency that poses a significant threat to our national food security, agricultural community, and public health. Supports Congressional efforts and the Trump Administration to lessen the overreliance on China for the production of critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture. 17. Supported passage of H.R. 5371: Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, FY2026. Budget/Appropriations: 1. Supports $1.877 billion in total funding for USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for Fiscal Year 2026, which represents a five percent increase over the FY2025 level. 2. Supports no less than $500 million in funding for USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program for Fiscal Year 2026. 3. Supports an investment of $10 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) in Fiscal Year 2026. 4. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 5. Supports increasing the funding level for aflatoxin research to $2.5 million in FY2026, as well as award a total of $2.5 million toward vomitoxin research through USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. 6. Supported passage of H.R. 4121: The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2026. 7. Supported passage of H.R. 5371: Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, FY2026. Animals: 1. General pet food and related pet welfare issues, including the continuation of the Congressional Pet Caucus. 2. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 3. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 4. Opposes federal mandates or incentives promoting renewable fuel production that use essential animal- and plant-based fats and oils necessary for complete and balanced nutrition in pet food formulations. 5. Supports general efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF) in the United States. 6. Supports general efforts to keep companion animals safe and healthy, specifically H.R. 237: Paws Off Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem foods containing xylitol as misbranded unless the label or labeling of such foods contains a warning specifying the toxic effects of xylitol for dogs if ingested. 7. Supports H.R. 2253: Puppy Protection Act of 2025; Requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs. 8. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 9. Supportive of H.R. 2203: Innovative FEED Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances. 10. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 11. Supports H.R. 3732 and S. 1939: The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act; To provide protections for good faith donations of pet food and supplies. Also supports the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services including the BARK Act in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act. 12. Urges Congress to support key personnel and divisions devoted to critical animal health and animal food functions at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine through appropriated funds. The workforce reductions this year raise questions about the Centers ability to meet its statutory review timelines and other regulatory obligations. As the Administration and Congress consider restructuring and reorganizing FDA, it is essential that enough personnel with background and expertise in animal health and nutrition and animal food safety be maintained. There must be a continued and specific focus within the agency to address the unique challenges of protecting the health and welfare of more than 10 billion farm animals and 300 million companion animals. 13. Supports H.R. 3349 and S. 1725: The Healthy Dog Importation Act; To amend the Animal Health Protection Act with respect to the importation of live dogs to address the current gaps in oversight and prioritizes the prevention of disease introduction from imported dogs that threatens both animal and public health. 14. Concerned about the fact that the United States vitamin manufacturing is nearly non-existent, leaving it reliant on imports from China which dominates global vitamin manufacturing. This action has created a dependency that poses a significant threat to our national food security, agricultural community, and public health. Supports Congressional efforts and the Trump Administration to lessen the overreliance on China for the production of critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture. 15. Supported passage of H.R. 5371: Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, FY2026. Transportation: 1. General interest in transportation issues related to pet food manufacturing and other agriculture stakeholders, including efforts to alleviate any export shipping challenges. 2. Supports efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Support Congress' efforts to protect consumer vehicle choice by using the Congressional Review Act to disapprove these unachievable California vehicle rules, including those that would ban the internal combustion engine. 4. Supports reauthorizing our nation's highway and surface transportation programs. We believe a robust transportation system is essential to agriculture and Rural Americas continued prosperity and economic vitality by including these provisions: - Passing an on-time reauthorization, - Providing sufficient and sustainable funding, - Supporting roads and bridges, including first- and last-mile connections, - Modernizing truck weight policies, - Addressing challenges facing agricultural trucking, - Livestock exemption to hours of-service regulations, - Ensuring the continued viability of truck transportation and - Streamline infrastructure project delivery and reduce mandates. 5. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that will soon impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges we faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively. 6. Supports confirming Michelle Schultz for another term at the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Richard Kloster for a first term. Trucking/Shipping: 1. General interest in trucking/shipping issues or other supply chain challenges that continue to affect pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Supports general efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): 1. General concerns about global food insecurity. 2. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 3. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 4. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 5. Provided comments in response to the joint request for information from the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the development of a uniform definition for ultra-processed foods (UPF or UPFs). 6. Concerned about the fact that the United States vitamin manufacturing is nearly non-existent, leaving it reliant on imports from China which dominates global vitamin manufacturing. This action has created a dependency that poses a significant threat to our national food security, agricultural community, and public health. Supports Congressional efforts and the Trump Administration to lessen the overreliance on China for the production of critical nutrients that are essential to both human health and animal agriculture. Fuel/Gas/Oil: 1. Opposed to mandating or encouraging the use of food or feedstock, including animal- and plant-based fats and oils that are historically used in human and pet food, as a significant source of renewable fuels. 2. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. 3. Supports the EPA pausing increases in the Advanced Biofuels for 2026 and beyond. Any increases in the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for Advanced Biofuels should be limited until such time as the EPA and USDA are able to guarantee that feedstock supplies of both plant oils and animal fats are sufficient to fulfill both food and fuel needs without causing unnecessary supply limitations and price increases. 4. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 5. Asks EPA to consider partnering with USDA to conduct a thorough analysis of the impact of the use of renewable fuels on the price and supply of agricultural commodities and food prices. 6. Urges EPA as they develop the Renewable Fuel Standard's Renewable Volume Obligations for 2026 and beyond, that they will take into consideration the impact of significant increases in renewable diesel will have on the supply of critical animal fats used in pet food formulations, pet food prices and the economic impact on the 94 million pet owning households across the United States. 7. Concerned about the significant increase in biomass-based diesel (BBD) volume requirements in EPAs proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027 along with the new proposal to cut the Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) in half for imported renewable fuels and feedstocks. Respectfully requests that the EPA carefully consider the competition of limited resources for food, feed, and fuel in the United States. Since the EPA has determined it is feasible to suballocate RINs based on the source of fuels and feedstocks - whether that is foreign or domestic, we ask the EPA to consider a similar sub-allocation of RINs among the types of feedstocks. Also urges the EPA to explore ways to assign different RIN values to each feedstock type and cap the number of RINs that can be generated from animal fats for renewable diesel production to preserve the food-grade supply for both humans and animals. Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills): 1. Interest in general tariff issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 2. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that could impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues. 3. Supports the Trump Administrations objectives of safeguarding national security and promoting American manufacturing but concerned about the Section 232 steel and aluminum Inclusions Process. 4. Opposed to the Canned Manufacturers Institute's petition to the Bureau of Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce to designate filled food cans as steel/aluminum derivative products which would include HTSUS code 2309.10.0010 for dog and cat food in airtight containers. Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries: 1. General interest in shipping issues or other supply chain challenges affecting pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Urged the Office of the US Trade Representative to refrain from imposing its proposed actions in response to the Section 301 investigation of China's targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. 4. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that could impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges we faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively. 5. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Railroads: 1. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: 1. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 2. Supportive of S. 1163 and H.R. 2398: Rural Veterinary Workforce Act; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion for assistance provided to participants in certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness programs. 3. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. Economics/Economic Development: 1. Responded to the Department of Justices desire to identify State laws which significantly and adversely affect the national economy or interstate commerce. The current patchwork regulatory system requires pet food makers to comply with both federal requirements as well as individual state-by-state regulation and interpretations. Over time this has created regulatory burdens that cause U.S. pet food makers to be overly focused on state-by-state domestic compliance, unrelated to food safety. PFI suggested a clear-cut solution (H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025) to address the challenges affecting the pet food industry, specifically the PURR Act would preempt state feed laws from requiring label review while bringing applicable regulations under Federal statutes.

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2176 ("Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms Act of 2025") H.R. 2253 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") H.R. 2976 ("Cold-Blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act") H.R. 3112/S. 1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") H.R. 3349/S. 1725 ("Health Dog Importaton Act") H.R. 3525/S. 1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") H.R. 3806 ("New World Screwworm Preparedness Act of 2025") H.R. 4921 ("Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2025") H.R. 5286 ("Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act") H.R. 5342 (Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act) S.620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act") S.1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") S.1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") S.1725 ("Healthy Dog Importation Act")

Reported lobbying issue

Trade (domestic/foreign): 1. APHIS facility inspections and approvals with regard to foreign market access, general market access and export issues, including export certificates for animal products. 2. General efforts to prevent diseases, like African Swine Fever (ASF) and New World Screwworm from entering the U.S. 3. General tariff and trade disrupting issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 4. Supports addressing and finding solutions to the ongoing challenges impacting our nation's food and agricultural supply chains, specifically as it relates to the pet food industry. 5. Supports uninterrupted trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada to provide access to the goods they need, including pet food. 6. General efforts for China market access and export registrations to China. Supports Economic Trade Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of the People's Republic of China. 7. Supports U.S. agricultural export promotion and long-term market development. Specifically, H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 8. Supports strengthening multilateral trade rules on agriculture that promotes resilient, adaptive, and innovative agricultural markets. 9. Supports Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 10. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 11. Supports the nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. 12. Supports maintaining USDAs core international trade policy functions-including those within the Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA) and other relevant USDA staff-in Washington, D.C. Agriculture: 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 3. General efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF). 4. Supportive of H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 5. Supports Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 6. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 7. Supports Dudley Hoskins to be the next Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the US Department of Agriculture. 8. Supports passage of H.R. 4121: The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2026. 9. Supports passage of H.R. 4601: Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act; Directs the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to amend certain regulations with respect to farm-related service industry restricted commercial drivers licenses. 10. Supports passage of S. 2909: Seasonal Agriculture CDL Modernization Act; Requires the Secretary of Transportation to revise certain regulations with respect to farm-related service industry restricted commercial drivers licenses. 11. Supported the National Organic Program: Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food published in late December 2024. This rule and associated regulations supported pet food makers by establishing a standard to allow the use of the USDA Organic seal on the labels of finished pet food products. Concerned about now rescinding the new rule, which we believe will be a step backwards by reintroducing a confusing and burdensome process that will continue to inhibit the growth of the organic pet food marketplace. 12. Supports maintaining USDAs core international trade policy functions-including those within the Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA) and other relevant USDA staff-in Washington, D.C. 13. Supports passage of H.R. 4585: Agricultural and Rural Road Improvement Program Act; Amends title 23, United States Code, to establish an agricultural and rural road improvement program. 14. Supports the nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. 15. Supports the key priorities in USDA's National Farm Security Action Plan and recognize USDAs Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) as the ideal agency to lead this effort. Budget/Appropriations: 1. Supports $1.877 billion in total funding for USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for Fiscal Year 2026, which represents a five percent increase over the FY2025 level. 2. Supports no less than $500 million in funding for USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program for Fiscal Year 2026. 3. Supports an investment of $10 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) in Fiscal Year 2026. 4. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 5. Supports increasing the funding level for aflatoxin research to $2.5 million in FY2026, as well as award a total of $2.5 million toward vomitoxin research through USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. 6. Supports passage of H.R. 4121: The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2026. Animals: 1. General pet food and related pet welfare issues, including the continuation of the Congressional Pet Caucus. 2. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 3. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 4. Opposes federal mandates or incentives promoting renewable fuel production that use essential animal- and plant-based fats and oils necessary for complete and balanced nutrition in pet food formulations. 5. Supports general efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF) in the United States. 6. Supports general efforts to keep companion animals safe and healthy, specifically H.R. 237: Paws Off Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem foods containing xylitol as misbranded unless the label or labeling of such foods contains a warning specifying the toxic effects of xylitol for dogs if ingested. 7. Supports H.R. 2253: Puppy Protection Act of 2025; Requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs. 8. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 9. Supportive of H.R. 2203: Innovative FEED Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances. 10. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 11. Supports H.R. 3732 and S. 1939: The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act; To provide protections for good faith donations of pet food and supplies. Also supports the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services including the BARK Act in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act. 12. Urges Congress to support key personnel and divisions devoted to critical animal health and animal food functions at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine through appropriated funds. The workforce reductions this year raise questions about the Centers ability to meet its statutory review timelines and other regulatory obligations. As the Administration and Congress consider restructuring and reorganizing FDA, it is essential that enough personnel with background and expertise in animal health and nutrition and animal food safety be maintained. There must be a continued and specific focus within the agency to address the unique challenges of protecting the health and welfare of more than 10 billion farm animals and 300 million companion animals. 13. Supports H.R. 3349 and S. 1725: The Healthy Dog Importation Act; To amend the Animal Health Protection Act with respect to the importation of live dogs to address the current gaps in oversight and prioritizes the prevention of disease introduction from imported dogs that threatens both animal and public health. Transportation: 1. General interest in transportation issues related to pet food manufacturing and other agriculture stakeholders, including efforts to alleviate any export shipping challenges. 2. Supports efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Support Congress' efforts to protect consumer vehicle choice by using the Congressional Review Act to disapprove these unachievable California vehicle rules, including those that would ban the internal combustion engine. 4. Supports reauthorizing our nation's highway and surface transportation programs. We believe a robust transportation system is essential to agriculture and Rural Americas continued prosperity and economic vitality by including these provisions: - Passing an on-time reauthorization, - Providing sufficient and sustainable funding, - Supporting roads and bridges, including first- and last-mile connections, - Modernizing truck weight policies, - Addressing challenges facing agricultural trucking, - Livestock exemption to hours of-service regulations, - Ensuring the continued viability of truck transportation and - Streamline infrastructure project delivery and reduce mandates. 5. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that will soon impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges we faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively. Trucking/Shipping: 1. General interest in trucking/shipping issues or other supply chain challenges that continue to affect pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Supports general efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): 1. General concerns about global food insecurity. 2. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 3. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 4. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. Fuel/Gas/Oil: 1. Opposed to mandating or encouraging the use of food or feedstock, including animal- and plant-based fats and oils that are historically used in human and pet food, as a significant source of renewable fuels. 2. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. 3. Supports the EPA pausing increases in the Advanced Biofuels for 2026 and beyond. Any increases in the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for Advanced Biofuels should be limited until such time as the EPA and USDA are able to guarantee that feedstock supplies of both plant oils and animal fats are sufficient to fulfill both food and fuel needs without causing unnecessary supply limitations and price increases. 4. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 5. Asks EPA to consider partnering with USDA to conduct a thorough analysis of the impact of the use of renewable fuels on the price and supply of agricultural commodities and food prices. 6. Urges EPA as they develop the Renewable Fuel Standard's Renewable Volume Obligations for 2026 and beyond, that they will take into consideration the impact of significant increases in renewable diesel will have on the supply of critical animal fats used in pet food formulations, pet food prices and the economic impact on the 94 million pet owning households across the United States. 7. Concerned about the significant increase in biomass-based diesel (BBD) volume requirements in EPAs proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027 along with the new proposal to cut the Renewable Identification Numbers (RIN) in half for imported renewable fuels and feedstocks. Respectfully requests that the EPA carefully consider the competition of limited resources for food, feed, and fuel in the United States. Since the EPA has determined it is feasible to suballocate RINs based on the source of fuels and feedstocks - whether that is foreign or domestic, we ask the EPA to consider a similar sub-allocation of RINs among the types of feedstocks. Also urges the EPA to explore ways to assign different RIN values to each feedstock type and cap the number of RINs that can be generated from animal fats for renewable diesel production to preserve the food-grade supply for both humans and animals. Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills): 1. Interest in general tariff issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 2. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that could impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues. 3. Supports the Trump Administrations objectives of safeguarding national security and promoting American manufacturing but concerned about the newly implemented Section 232 steel and aluminum Inclusions Process and the subsequent expansion of 50% tariffs on 407 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes. We urge the Department of Commerce to improve the broader Inclusions Process, consider processes to allow for rebuttal of an inclusion request and for the removal of a product from the derivatives list, even if removal is for a limited period to permit manufacturers to adjust. Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries: 1. General interest in shipping issues or other supply chain challenges affecting pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Urged the Office of the US Trade Representative to refrain from imposing its proposed actions in response to the Section 301 investigation of China's targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. 4. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that could impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges we faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively. 5. Supports the passage of H.R. 4294: The Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act of 2025. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish a pilot program with respect to the sale of blue catfish caught within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Railroads: 1. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: 1. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 2. Supportive of S. 1163 and H.R. 2398: Rural Veterinary Workforce Act; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion for assistance provided to participants in certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness programs. 3. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. Economics/Economic Development: 1. Responded to the Department of Justices desire to identify State laws which significantly and adversely affect the national economy or interstate commerce. The current patchwork regulatory system requires pet food makers to comply with both federal requirements as well as individual state-by-state regulation and interpretations. Over time this has created regulatory burdens that cause U.S. pet food makers to be overly focused on state-by-state domestic compliance, unrelated to food safety. PFI suggested a clear-cut solution (H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025) to address the challenges affecting the pet food industry, specifically the PURR Act would preempt state feed laws from requiring label review while bringing applicable regulations under Federal statutes.

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2176 ("Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms Act of 2025") H.R. 2253 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") H.R. 2976 ("Cold-Blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act") H.R. 3112/S. 1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") H.R. 3349/S. 1725 ("Health Dog Importaton Act") H.R. 3525/S. 1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") H.R. 4921 ("Providing for Unhoused People with Pets Act of 2025") H.R. 5286 ("Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act") S.620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act") S.1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") S.1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") S.1725 ("Healthy Dog Importation Act")

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2253 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") S.620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act")

Reported lobbying issue

Trade (domestic/foreign): 1. APHIS facility inspections and approvals with regard to foreign market access, general market access and export issues, including export certificates for animal products. 2. General efforts to prevent diseases, like African Swine Fever (ASF) from entering the U.S. 3. General tariff and trade disrupting issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 4. Supports addressing and finding solutions to the ongoing challenges impacting our nation's food and agricultural supply chains, specifically as it relates to the pet food industry. 5. Supports uninterrupted trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada to provide access to the goods they need, including pet food. 6. General efforts for China market access and export registrations to China. Supports Economic Trade Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of the People's Republic of China. 7. Supports U.S. agricultural export promotion and long-term market development. Specifically, H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 8. Supports strengthening multilateral trade rules on agriculture that promotes resilient, adaptive, and innovative agricultural markets. 9. Supports Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 10. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. Agriculture: 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 3. General efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF). 4. Supportive of H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 5. Supports Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 6. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 7. Supports Dudley Hoskins to be the next Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the US Department of Agriculture. 8. Supports passage of H.R. 4121: The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2026. Budget/Appropriations: 1. Supports $1.877 billion in total funding for USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for Fiscal Year 2026, which represents a five percent increase over the FY2025 level. 2. Supports no less than $500 million in funding for USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program for Fiscal Year 2026. 3. Supports an investment of $10 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) in Fiscal Year 2026. 4. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 5. Supports increasing the funding level for aflatoxin research to $2.5 million in FY2026, as well as award a total of $2.5 million toward vomitoxin research through USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in the FY2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. 6. Supports passage of H.R. 4121: The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY2026. Animals: 1. General pet food and related pet welfare issues, including the continuation of the Congressional Pet Caucus. 2. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 3. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 4. Opposes federal mandates or incentives promoting renewable fuel production that use essential animal- and plant-based fats and oils necessary for complete and balanced nutrition in pet food formulations. 5. Supports general efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF) in the United States. 6. Supports general efforts to keep companion animals safe and healthy, specifically H.R. 237: Paws Off Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem foods containing xylitol as misbranded unless the label or labeling of such foods contains a warning specifying the toxic effects of xylitol for dogs if ingested. 7. Supports H.R. 2253: Puppy Protection Act of 2025; Requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs. 8. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 9. Supportive of H.R. 2203: Innovative FEED Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances. 10. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. 11. Supports H.R. 3732 and S. 1939: The Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act; To provide protections for good faith donations of pet food and supplies. Also supports the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services including the BARK Act in the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act. 12. Urges Congress to support key personnel and divisions devoted to critical animal health and animal food functions at FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine through appropriated funds. The workforce reductions this year raise questions about the Centers ability to meet its statutory review timelines and other regulatory obligations. As the Administration and Congress consider restructuring and reorganizing FDA, it is essential that enough personnel with background and expertise in animal health and nutrition and animal food safety be maintained. There must be a continued and specific focus within the agency to address the unique challenges of protecting the health and welfare of more than 10 billion farm animals and 300 million companion animals. 13. Supports H.R. 3349 and S. 1725: The Healthy Dog Importation Act; To amend the Animal Health Protection Act with respect to the importation of live dogs to address the current gaps in oversight and prioritizes the prevention of disease introduction from imported dogs that threatens both animal and public health. Transportation: 1. General interest in transportation issues related to pet food manufacturing and other agriculture stakeholders, including efforts to alleviate any export shipping challenges. 2. Supports efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Support Congress' efforts to protect consumer vehicle choice by using the Congressional Review Act to disapprove these unachievable California vehicle rules, including those that would ban the internal combustion engine. 4. Supports reauthorizing our nation's highway and surface transportation programs. We believe a robust transportation system is essential to agriculture and Rural Americas continued prosperity and economic vitality by including these provisions: - Passing an on-time reauthorization, - Providing sufficient and sustainable funding, - Supporting roads and bridges, including first- and last-mile connections, - Modernizing truck weight policies, - Addressing challenges facing agricultural trucking, - Livestock exemption to hours of-service regulations, - Ensuring the continued viability of truck transportation and - Streamline infrastructure project delivery and reduce mandates. 5. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that will soon impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges we faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively and as soon as possible. Trucking/Shipping: 1. General interest in trucking/shipping issues or other supply chain challenges that continue to affect pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Supports general efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): 1. General concerns about global food insecurity. 2. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 3. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 4. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. Fuel/Gas/Oil: 1. Opposed to mandating or encouraging the use of food or feedstock, including animal- and plant-based fats and oils that are historically used in human and pet food, as a significant source of renewable fuels. 2. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. 3. Supports the EPA pausing increases in the Advanced Biofuels for 2026 and beyond. Any increases in the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for Advanced Biofuels should be limited until such time as the EPA and USDA are able to guarantee that feedstock supplies of both plant oils and animal fats are sufficient to fulfill both food and fuel needs without causing unnecessary supply limitations and price increases. 4. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 5. Supports analyzing the impact of the use of renewable fuels on the price and supply of agricultural commodities and on food prices in the United States. 6. Urges the EPA as they develop the Renewable Fuel Standard's Renewable Volume Obligations for 2026 and beyond, that they will take into consideration the impact of significant increases in renewable diesel will have on pet food prices and the economic impact on the 94 million pet owning households across the United States. Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills): 1. Interest in general tariff issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 2. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that will soon impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges we faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively and as soon as possible. Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries: 1. General interest in shipping issues or other supply chain challenges affecting pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Urged the Office of the US Trade Representative to refrain from imposing its proposed actions in response to the Section 301 investigation of China's targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. 4. Urged the Trump Administration to engage with all supply chain stakeholders to address concerns about anticipated port congestion and supply chain disruption that will soon impact U.S. competitiveness. Stakeholders are concerned that the tariff implementation changes, especially with China, will recreate the supply chain challenges we faced during the pandemic with severe port congestion, inaccessible vessel capacity and containers, higher freight rates, and shipment delays. We respectfully urge the administration to reconstitute the White House Supply Chain Disruption Task Force to address these issues proactively and as soon as possible. Railroads: 1. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: 1. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 2. Supportive of H.R. 2398: Rural Veterinary Workforce Act; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion for assistance provided to participants in certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness programs. 3. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. 4. Urges Congress to enact three specific pro-growth tax relief proposals in the reconciliation bill (H.R. 1), authorized by H.Con.Res.14, the fiscal year 2025 budget resolution: - The first of the three pro-growth proposals would support innovation and job creation in America by reversing the amortization of research and development (R&D) expenditures that took effect in 2022. - The second of the pro-growth tax incentives would reduce the cost of debt financing for job-creating projects and investments by reverting the basis of the interest limitation rules from an earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) standard to an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) standard. - The final pro-growth incentive is to restore full expensing for capital equipment purchases.

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2176 ("Saving Natural Ecosystems and Marine Organisms Act of 2025") H.R. 2253 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") H.R. 2976 ("Cold-Blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act") H.R. 3112/S. 1538 ("Better Collaboration, Accountability, and Regulatory Enforcement for Animals Act of 2025") H.R. 3349/S. 1725 ("Health Dog Importaton Act") H.R. 3525/S. 1708 ("Regulatory Accountability Act") S.620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act")

Reported lobbying issue

Trade (domestic/foreign): 1. APHIS facility inspections and approvals with regard to foreign market access, general market access and export issues, including export certificates for animal products. 2. General efforts to prevent diseases, like African Swine Fever (ASF) from entering the U.S. 3. General tariff and trade disrupting issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. 4. Supports addressing and finding solutions to the ongoing challenges impacting our nation's food and agricultural supply chains, specifically as it relates to the pet food industry. 5. Supports uninterrupted trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada to provide access to the goods they need, including pet food. 6. General efforts for China market access and export registrations to China. Supports Economic Trade Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of the People's Republic of China. 7. Supports U.S. agricultural export promotion and long-term market development. Specifically, H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 8. Supports strengthening multilateral trade rules on agriculture that promotes resilient, adaptive, and innovative agricultural markets. 9. Supports Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 10. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. Agriculture: 1. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 2. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 3. General efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF). 4. Supportive of H.R. 1086: Agriculture Export Promotion Act of 2025; which would expand and extend the Market Access Program and Foreign Market Development Cooperator Program through FY2029. 5. Supports Luke Lindberg's nomination to be the next Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the US Department of Agriculture. 6. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. Budget/Appropriations: 1. Supports $1.877 billion in total funding for USDAs Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for Fiscal Year 2026. 2. Supports no less than $500 million in funding for USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program for Fiscal Year 2026. 3. Supports an investment of $10 million for the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority (AGARDA) in Fiscal Year 2026. 4. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. Animals: 1. General pet food and related pet welfare issues, including the continuation of the Congressional Pet Caucus. 2. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 3. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. 4. Opposes federal mandates or incentives promoting renewable fuel production that use essential animal- and plant-based fats and oils necessary for complete and balanced nutrition in pet food formulations. 5. General efforts to prevent diseases, like High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and African Swine Fever (ASF) in the U.S. 6. General efforts to keep companion animals safe and healthy, specifically H.R. 237: Paws Off Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem foods containing xylitol as misbranded unless the label or labeling of such foods contains a warning specifying the toxic effects of xylitol for dogs if ingested. Also supports H.R. 2253: Puppy Protection Act of 2025; Requires the Department of Agriculture to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. Specifically, the standards must require dog dealers to provide to dogs. 7. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 8. Supportive of H.R. 2203: Innovative FEED Act of 2025; Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the regulation of zootechnical animal food substances. 9. Concerned about USDA's hiring freeze and other headcount reduction policies that could have unintended consequences on the animal food sector and its customers. We request the Department consider lifting headcount reduction policies, especially for user-fee funded positions at APHIS and FSIS. Transportation: 1. General interest in transportation issues related to pet food manufacturing and other agriculture stakeholders, including efforts to alleviate any export shipping challenges. 2. Supports efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Support Congress' efforts to protect consumer vehicle choice by using the Congressional Review Act to disapprove these unachievable California vehicle rules, including those that would ban the internal combustion engine. Trucking/Shipping: 1. General interest in trucking/shipping issues or other supply chain challenges that continue to affect pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Supports general efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Railroads: 1. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): 1. General concerns about global food insecurity. 2. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 3. General interest in the ingredients used in pet food, and modernizing the outdated regulatory processes for pet food and pet food products. 4. Supports H.R. 597: The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify and update the authority of the Food and Drug Administration to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. Fuel/Gas/Oil: 1. Opposed to mandating or encouraging the use of food or feedstock, including animal- and plant-based fats and oils that are historically used in human and pet food, as a significant source of renewable fuels. 2. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel. 3. Supports the EPA pausing increases in the Advanced Biofuels for 2026 and beyond. Any increases in the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for Advanced Biofuels should be limited until such time as the EPA and USDA are able to guarantee that feedstock supplies of both plant oils and animal fats are sufficient to fulfill both food and fuel needs without causing unnecessary supply limitations and price increases. 4. Supportive of Congress and the Trump Administration ensuring that suitable supplies of the critical fats and oils remain available for human and petfood consumption, outside of the biofuels industry. 5. Supports analyzing the impact of the use of renewable fuels on the price and supply of agricultural commodities and on food prices in the United States. Tariff (miscellaneous tariff bills): 1. Interest in general tariff issues affecting pet food manufacturers. Specifically supports suspending, reducing, or eliminating tariffs which hinder food and agriculture exports. Marine/Maritime/Boating/Fisheries: 1. General interest in shipping issues or other supply chain challenges affecting pet food manufacturers and other agriculture stakeholders. 2. Support efforts to advance transportation and infrastructure polices for truck, rail, waterways and ports that will enhance the efficient and cost-effective transport of agricultural and food products, including pet food. 3. Urge the Office of the US Trade Representative to refrain from imposing its proposed actions in response to the Section 301 investigation of China's targeting the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: 1. Supportive of H.R. 1842: People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to allow certain veterinary expenses for pets and service animals to be treated as amounts paid for medical care for purposes of a health savings account or flexible savings account. 2. Supportive of H.R. 2398: Rural Veterinary Workforce Act; Amends the IRS Code of 1986 to provide for an exclusion for assistance provided to participants in certain veterinary student loan repayment or forgiveness programs. 3. Opposed to government mandates and tax credits promoting the expansion of renewable diesel.

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2253 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") S.620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act")

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: H.R. 102 ("American Sovereignty and Species Protection Act") H.R. 180 ("Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act of 2025") H.R. 349 ("Goldie's Act") H.R. 597 ("Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025") H.R. 1477 ("Animal Cruelty Enforcement (ACE) Act") H.R. 1842 ("People and Animals Well-being Act of 2025") H.R. 2253 ("Puppy Protection Act of 2025") S.620 ("Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act")

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations oHorse Protection Act enforcement oWild horses and burros oHorse slaughter defund oAnimal testing alternatives oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oAnimal fighting and Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act enforcement oPets Evacuation and Transportation Standards implementation oBig Cat Public Safety Act enforcement oProtecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grants oHumane Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement oVeterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Veterinary Services Grant Program oSupport Endangered Species Act implementation; oppose removal of ESA regulations oMultinational Species Conservation Fund, USFWS International Affairs and USFWS Office of Law Enforcement oWildlife trafficking oBring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act oShark Fins Sale Elimination Act Enforcement oWildlife Crossings Pilot Program oJohn H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance grant program oReducing hardship for international transportation of domestic animals oOppose primate infrastructure oOppose Save Our Bacon Act, Food Security and Farm Protection Act, and related legislation oOppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act oOppose trophy hunting Imports oOppose M-44s oBlock funding to issue USDA licenses to those who would travel elephants overnight Authorizing legislation oPuppy Protection Act (H.R.2253/S. 4437) oPrevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1684) oSave Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.1661/S.775) oBetter CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) oBring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) oPeople and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act (H.R.1842) oProviding for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act of 2025 (H.R.4921) oEjiao Act (H.R. 5544) oVeterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act (S.4365) oSave Animals Through Operational Shelters (SATOS) Act (H.R. 6716) oCanyons Law (H.R. 4180/ S. 2179) oWildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act (H.R.6078) oOppose Food Security and Farm Protection (S. 1326) Act oOppose Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845/ S.1306) oOppose Healthy Dog Importation Act (H.R. 3349/S. 1725) oOppose Grizzly Bear State Management Act (H.R. 281/S. 445) oOppose Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (H.R. 556/S. 537) oOppose ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897) oOppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act (H.R. 597) oOppose Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 4255) oOppose Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) oOppose Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief Act of 2025 (H.R. 5171) oOppose Protecting Local Zoos Act (H.R. 7159) oConcerns with S.J. Res 69/ H.J. Res. 111 Farm Bill (H.R. 7567/Senate discussion draft) oPuppy Protection Act (H.R.2253/S. 4437) oBetter CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) oSave Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.1661/S.775) oProtecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grant program reauthorization oSupport for provisions advance alternatives to animal testing oWildlife corridors/crossings oAnimal Welfare Act protections and oversight oAlternative protein research oOppose Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S. 1326), Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) and any related attack on state and local agriculture laws oOppose Healthy Dog Importation Act oOppose weakening of dog protections oOppose mink fur industry development and expansion oOppose removal of ESA protections oOppose M-44s NDAA (H.R. 8800/S. 4784) oBring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) oOppose removal of ESA regulations oOppose waivers to permit live tissue trauma training BUILD America 250 Act (H.R. 8870) oReauthorization of the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program oEnding transport of horses for slaughter Rulemaking and Federal Government Decisions and Policies oGrizzly Bears oHorse Protection Act enforcement oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oNew Approach Methods to animal testing oWild Horses and Burros oWildlife trafficking oM-44s oBig Cats Public Safety Act oHunting/fishing regulations oShark fin sales elimination act and shark matters more generally oGod squad/Endangered Species Committee action oDepopulation oLine speeds for poultry and pork oListing pangolins and giraffes under the Endangered Species Act (and other foreign species) oEndangered Species Act Implementing Regulations oUSDA Animal Welfare Act regulations for dogs Budget/Appropriations: Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations oHorse Protection Act enforcement oWild horses and burros oHorse slaughter defund oAnimal testing alternatives oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oAnimal fighting and Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act enforcement oPets Evacuation and Transportation Standards implementation oBig Cat Public Safety Act enforcement oProtecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grants oHumane Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement oVeterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Veterinary Services Grant Program oSupport Endangered Species Act implementation; oppose removal of ESA regulations oMultinational Species Conservation Fund, USFWS International Affairs and USFWS Office of Law Enforcement oWildlife trafficking oBring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act oShark Fins Sale Elimination Act Enforcement oWildlife Crossings Pilot Program oJohn H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance grant program oReducing hardship for international transportation of domestic animals oOppose primate infrastructure oOppose Save Our Bacon Act, Food Security and Farm Protection Act, and related legislation oOppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act oOppose trophy hunting Imports oOppose M-44s oBlock funding to issue USDA licenses to those who would travel elephants overnight

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Authorizing legislation oPuppy Protection Act (H.R.2253) oPrevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1684) oSave Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.1661/S.775) oBetter CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) oBring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) oPeople and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act (H.R.1842) oProviding for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act of 2025 (H.R.4921) oEjiao Act (H.R. 5544) oVeterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act (S.4365) oSave Animals Through Operational Shelters (SATOS) Act (H.R. 6716) oWildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act (H.R.6078) oOppose Food Security and Farm Protection (S. 1326) Act oOppose Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845/ S.1306) oOppose Trust the Science Act (H.R. 130) oOppose Grizzly Bear State Management Act (H.R. 281/ S. 445) oOppose ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897) oOppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act (H.R. 597) oOppose Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 4255) oOppose Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) oOppose Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief Act of 2025 (H.R. 5171) oOppose Protecting Local Zoos Act (H.R. 7159) oConcerns with S.J. Res 69/ H.J. Res. 111 Farm Bill oPuppy Protection Act (H.R.) (H.R.2253) oBetter CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) oOppose Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S. 1326), Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) and any related attack on state and local agriculture laws oOppose Section 12005 (Healthy Dog Importation Act, H.R. 3349) oOppose weakening of dog protections (Section 12604 (c) ) oOppose Mink Fur Industry Development/Expansion (Section 3201(d)) NDAA (H.R. 3838/S. 2296) o Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) oOppose removal of ESA regulations Rulemaking and Federal Government Decisions and Policies oGray wolves oGrizzly Bears oHorse Protection Act enforcement oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oNew Approach Methods to animal testing oWild Horses and Burros oWildlife trafficking oBig Cats Public Safety Act oTrophy hunting oShark fin sales elimination act and shark matters more generally oGod squad/Endangered Species Committee action oRetirement of animals used in research oListing pangolins and giraffes under the Endangered Species Act (and other foreign species) oFunding priorities for the FY27 Presidents Budget Request oEndangered Species Act Implementing Regulations oEvacuation of U.S. citizens pets from overseas in crises oUSDA Animal Welfare Act regulations for dogs oNIH DPCPSI Proposed Reorganization Budget/Appropriations: Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations oHorse Protection Act enforcement oWild horses and burros oHorse slaughter defund oAnimal testing alternatives oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oBig Cat Public Safety Act implementation oProtecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grants oHumane Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement oVeterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Veterinary Services Grant Program oEndangered Species Act implementation; oppose attacks oMultinational Species Conservation Fund, USFWS International Affairs and USFWS Office of Law Enforcement oWildlife trafficking oBring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act oOppose primate infrastructure oOppose Save Our Bacon Act, Food Security and Farm Protection Act, and related legislation oOppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act oShark Fins Sale Elimination Act Enforcement oWildlife Crossings Pilot Program oBan Trophy Hunting Imports oJohn H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance grant program oOppose M-44s

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Authorizing legislation Puppy Protection Act (H.R.2253) Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1684) Save Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.1661/S.775) Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act (H.R.1842) Providing for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act of 2025 (H.R.4921) Ejiao Act (H.R. 5544) Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act (S.4365) Save Animals Through Operational Shelters (SATOS) Act (H.R. 6716) Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act (H.R.6078) Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection (S. 1326) Act Oppose Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845/ S.1306) Oppose Trust the Science Act (H.R. 130) Oppose Grizzly Bear State Management Act (H.R. 281/ S. 445) Oppose ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897) Oppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act (H.R. 597) Oppose Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 4255) Oppose Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) Oppose Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief Act of 2025 (H.R. 5171) Concerns with S.J. Res 69/ H.J. Res. 111 Farm Bill Puppy Protection Act (H.R.) (H.R.2253) Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S. 1326), Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) and any related attack on state and local agriculture laws NDAA (H.R. 3838/S. 2296) Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) Oppose removal of ESA regulations Rulemaking and Federal Government Decisions and Policies Gray wolves (listing and cancellation of the National Wolf Recovery Plan) Grizzly Bears Horse Protection Act enforcement Animal Welfare Act enforcement New Approach Methods to animal testing Animal Testing for UV Filters Wild Horses and Burros HISA Wildlife trafficking Big Cats Public Safety Act Importation permits for wildlife Trophy hunting CITES and CoP20 Proposal 4 related to giraffes NIH Chimpanzees Listing pangolins and giraffes under the Endangered Species Act (and other foreign species) Funding priorities for the FY27 Presidents Budget Request Endangered Species Act Implementing Regulations Twenty-Eight Hour Law regulations OSHA general duty clause - animal handling/performance Veterinary workforce shortages USDA permits to import dogs for adoption PACT Act Enforcement Desert tortoise/Florida panther protections under the ESA Budget/Appropriations: Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Horse Protection Act enforcement Wild horses and burros Horse slaughter defund Animal testing alternatives Animal Welfare Act enforcement Big Cat Public Safety Act implementation Protecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grants Humane Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Veterinary Services Grant Program Endangered Species Act implementation; oppose attacks Multinational Species Conservation Fund, USFWS International Affairs and USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act Oppose primate infrastructure Oppose Save Our Bacon Act, Food Security and Farm Protection Act, and related legislation Oppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Authorizing legislation Puppy Protection Act (H.R.2253) Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1684) Save Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.1661/S.775) Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 3199/S. 1594) Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) Canyons Law (H.R. 4180/S. 2179) Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 1657) People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act (H.R.1842) ProTECT Act (H.R. 1934) Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies (OCTOPUS) Act (S. 1947) Mink VIRUS Act (H.R. 2185) Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act (H.R. 2976) Providing for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act of 2025 (H.R.4921) Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act (H.R. 5286) Ejiao Act (H.R. 5544) National Animal Rescue Day Resolution (H.Res.781) Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act (S.4365) Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection (S. 1326) Act Oppose Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845/ S.1306) Oppose Trust the Science Act (H.R. 130) Oppose Grizzly Bear State Management Act (H.R. 281/ S. 445) Oppose ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897) Oppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act (H.R. 597) Oppose Enhancing Safety for Animals Act of 2025 (H.R. 4255) Oppose Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) Oppose Pacific Northwest Gray Wolves Relief Act of 2025 (H.R. 5171) Farm Bill Puppy Protection Act (H.R.) (H.R.2253) Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S. 1326), Save Our Bacon Act (H.R. 4673) and any related attack on state and local agriculture laws NDAA (H.R. 3838/S. 2296) Inclusion of Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) Oppose removal of ESA regulations Rulemaking and Federal Government Decisions and Policies Gray wolves Grizzly Bears Access to public lands/hunting of native carnivores on federal lands Horse Protection Act enforcement Animal Welfare Act enforcement New Approach Methods to animal testing Animal Testing for UV Filters Wild Horses and Burros HISA Wildlife trafficking Big Cats Public Safety Act Trophy hunting Wildlife corridors CITES and CoP20 Proposal 4 related to giraffes NIH Chimpanzees Listing pangolins under the Endangered Species Act (and other foreign species) Pork and poultry processing line speeds Funding priorities for the FY26 Presidents Budget Request Endangered Species Act Implementing Regulations Twenty-Eight Hour Law regulations OSHA general duty clause - animal handling/performance Budget/Appropriations: Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Horse Protection Act enforcement Wild horses and burros Horse slaughter defund Animal testing alternatives Animal Welfare Act enforcement Big Cat Public Safety Act implementation Protecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grants Humane Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Veterinary Services Grant Program Endangered Species Act implementation; oppose attacks Multinational Species Conservation Fund, USFWS International Affairs and USFWS Office of Law Enforcement Inclusion of the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act Oppose primate infrastructure Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection Act and related legislation Oppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Authorizing legislation o Puppy Protection Act (H.R.) (H.R.2253) o Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1684) o Save Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R.1661/S.775) o Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) o Humane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 1657) o Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 3199/S. 1594) o Mink VIRUS Act (H.R. 2185) o ProTECT Act (H.R. 1934) o Veterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act (S.4365) o People and Animals Well-being (PAW) Act (H.R.1842) o Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act (H.R.3732/ S. 1939) o Cold-blooded Animal Research and Exhibition Act (H.R. 2976) o Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies (OCTOPUS) Act (S. 1947) o Canyons Law (H.R. 4180/ S. 2179) o Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act o Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection (S. 1326) Act and related legislation o Oppose Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845/ S.1306) o Oppose Trust the Science Act (H.R. 130) o Oppose Grizzly Bear State Management Act (H.R. 281/ S. 445) o Oppose ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897) o Oppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act (H.R. 597) Farm Bill o Puppy Protection Act (H.R.) (H.R.2253) o Better CARE for Animals Act (H.R. 3112/S. 1538) o PAST Act (H.R. 1684) - oppose alternative proposals enabling horse soring o Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection Act (S. 1326) and any related attack on state and local agriculture laws Rulemaking and Federal Government Decisions and Policies o Gray wolves o Grizzly Bears o Hunting of native carnivores on federal lands o Horse Protection Act enforcement o Animal Welfare Act enforcement o New Approach Methods to animal testing o Animal Testing for UV Filters o Wild Horses and Burros NIH Chimpanzees o Listing pangolins under the Endangered Species Act o Pork and poultry processing line speeds o Funding priorities for the FY26 Presidents Budget Request o Endangered Species Act Implementing Regulations Budget/Appropriations: Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations o Horse Protection Act enforcement o Wild horses and burros o Horse slaughter defund o Animal testing alternatives o Animal Welfare Act enforcement o Big Cat Public Safety Act implementation o Protecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grants o Humane Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement o Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and Veterinary Services Grant Program o Endangered Species Act implementation; oppose attacks o Multinational Species Conservation Fund, USFWS International Affairs and USFWS Office of Law Enforcement o Inclusion of the Bring Animals Relief and Kibble (BARK) Act o Oppose primate infrastructure o Oppose Food Security and Farm Protection Act and related legislation o Oppose Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act

Reported lobbying issue

Animals: Authorizing legislation oPuppy Protection Act (H.R.) (H.R.2253_ oPrevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (H.R. 1684) oSave Americas Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (H.R. /S. ) (H.R.1661/S.775) oBetter CARE for Animals Act oHumane Cosmetics Act (H.R. 1657) oOppose Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act and related legislation oOppose Pet and Livestock Protection Act (H.R. 845) oOppose Trust the Science Act (H.R. 130) oOppose Grizzly Bear State Management Act (H.R. 281, S. 445) oOppose ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897) oCaptive Primate Safety Act (Introduction Pending) oMink VIRUS Act (H.R. 2185) oProTECT Act (H.R. 1934) oVeterinary Services to Improve Public Health in Rural Communities Act (S.4365) Farm Bill oPuppy Protection Act (H.R.) (H.R.2253) oBetter CARE for Animals Act oOppose Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act and any related attack on state and local agriculture laws oPAST Act (H.R. 1684) - oppose alternative proposals enabling horse soring Rulemaking and Federal Government Decisions and Policies oGray wolves oGrizzly Bears oHorse Protection Act enforcement oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oNew Approach Methods to animal testing oWild Horses and Burros oFarm Animal Confinement oNIH Chimpanzees oHorseracing Safety and Integrity Act Implementation oHighly Pathogenic Avian Influenza oDietary Guidelines oListing Giraffes under the Endangered Species Act oSentencing Guidelines for Animal Fighting Budget/Appropriations: Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations oHorse Protection Act enforcement oWild horses and burros oHorse slaughter defund oAnimal testing alternatives oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oBig Cat Public Safety Act implementation oShark Fin Sales Elimination Act implementation oProtecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grantsEndangered Species Act implementation; oppose attacks oOppose primate infrastructure oOppose Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act and related legislation oDog Importation oM-44 cyanide devices on federal land Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations oHorse Protection Act enforcement oWild horses and burros oHorse slaughter defund oAnimal testing alternatives oAnimal Welfare Act enforcement oBig Cat Public Safety Act implementation oProtecting Animals with Shelter (PAWS) grants oHumane Methods of Slaughter Act enforcement oVeterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program oEndangered Species Act implementation; oppose attacks oOppose primate infrastructure oOppose Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act and related legislation

Reported lobbying issue

Agriculture: FARM BILL: - Urged House and Senate Members to introduce text and pass a farm bill ASAP. - Worked with AFBF on providing intel for farm bill by listening to legislator's asks in the next farm bill. - Met with PA delegation's offices to discuss farm bill priorities (strong risk management programs, keeping nutrition programs in the farm bill, improving rural development resources such as broadband and precision ag technologies, increasing funding for land-grant universities' research facilities, increasing access to rural childcare, asking for legislative fix to Prop 12, among many other initiatives) in farm bill. See Section 24 - Trade - of this report for information on lobbying efforts for Prop 12. - Attended GT's Farm Bill Listening Session at Farm Show - Attended GT and RM Craig's Farm Bill Listening Session at AFBF Convention - Met with PSU Leadership to discuss the importance of Title X (Research) funding in the farm bill for land grant universities' research facilities. ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act, which would strengthen USDA's BioPreferred Program. This program increases market access for bio-based products and ensures America maintains its status as the worlds leader in biomanufacturing. - S.910, the Farm Ownership Improvement Act, which would require USDA to implement a pre-qualification or pre-approval process for all farmers and ranchers seeking FSA Direct Farm Ownership loans. - Reintroduction of the Specialty Crop Security Act, which would increase USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program authorization from $85 to $100 million per year and expand opportunities for specialty crop stakeholders to provide input into how program funding is used by state departments of agriculture. - S.581/H.R.295, the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act, which would mandate cost and yield surveying of processors to participate in the NDPSR survey every two years. - Reintroduction of the the Industrial Hemp Act, which would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid hemp like that used in the extraction of CBD. - Reintroduction of the the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act, which would direct USDA to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. - Reintroduction of the the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which would designate spotted lanternflies as a high priority pest under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to direct more federal research dollars to combat these devastating insects. - S.741/H.R.1613, the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act, which would require a USDA study on providing crop insurance for mushroom farmers. - S.1073/H.R.2117, the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which would help our next generation of farmers by aligning the definition of Beginning Farmers to match that of other USDA programs - 10 crop years or less instead of the status quo of 5 crop years or less. - S.156/H.R.575, the Increased TSP Access Act, which would help streamline the technical service provider (TSP) certification at NRCS and leverage the programs and technical expertise of NRCS to make conservation programs available to more farmers and on more land. - Reintroduction of the the GusNIP Expansion Act, which would enhance and expand the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which awards competitive grant funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for projects that provide incentives to income-eligible consumers to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - Reintroduction of the Farm Risk Abatement and Mitigation Election (FRAME) Act, which would establish tax-deferred farm savings accounts that allows farmers to independently prepare for and mitigate the financial impact of disasters. - Reintroduction of the Save Our Small Farms Act, which would provide a safety net by expanding the number of farms eligible to purchase crop insurance, lower coverage costs for small farms, and direct USDA to develop more responsive coverage options for farmers during extreme weather. - Reintroduction of the Fair Credit for Farmers Act, which aims to improve farmers' access to credit from the Farm Service Agency by increasing accountability, offering more flexible terms, and establishing stronger borrower protections. - S.838/H.R.1822, the ACRE Act, which would exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate. - H.R.2203, the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act, which would would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish a new category of animal food additives. - S.1050, the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act, which would prevent the conversion of forests into non-forest areas by authorizing funding to purchase development rights from willing private landowners. - H.R.2253, the Puppy Protection Act, which would require USDA to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE / DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS: - Advocated for USDA to release the $10 billion in economic assistance and $20.8 billion in disaster relief assistance from H.R.10545 (FY25 December 2024 CR). - Outreach to inform PFB members about the release of economic assistance funds under the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). - Listened to stakeholder webinars to learn more about ECAP. - Thanked USDA for releasing the economic assistance funds by the March 19 deadline. - Call with State Farm Bureaus to discuss how we would like the disaster relief funds to be distributed to give feedback to USDA. OTHER: - Attended and advocated for priorities such as whole milk in schools, economic assistance and disaster relief funds, farm bill, reinstating funds for the LFPA program, HPAI, labor, and trade during Secretary Rollins visit to Lebanon, PA. - Assisted USDA in the planning and execution of a roundtable with Secretary Rollins and regional Farm Bureau members to discuss HPAI, trade, labor, and other pressing agricultural issues. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting Stephen Vaden as the Deputy Secretary of USDA. - Informed PA House and Senate offices of PFB's 2025 priorities (animal health, dairy, energy, environment/regulatory reform, farm bill (including Prop 12), labor, transportation, and wildlife). - Recommended Michael Cabell of Luzerne County for PA's USDA Rural Development Director. - Recommended Michael Kerr of Clearfield County PA's USDA FSA Executive Director. Originally, advocated for Harrison Frantz of Franklin County for FSA State Executive Director, but he had to withdraw his name for personal reasons. - Networked and discussed PFB's priorities with legislators and their staff at Farm Show. - Reviewed USDA's proposed final decision for the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs)(Docket #: AMS-DA-23-0031) and emailed PA House and Senate Members that PFB's position is the same as it was in the recommended decision. Specifically, supported a switchback either to the higher of in Class I milk. Additionally, asked Congress Members to support requiring mandatory audited surveying for make allowance changes in the FMMOs. - Worked with Rep. Kelly's office on FWS' proposal to take land via eminent domain in PA-16. - Provided PFB member with talking points for Rep. Houlahan's agriculture forum. Environment/Superfund: ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - No bill # yet, the Agriculture Resilience Act, which would aim to reduce agriculture emissions by 50% before 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. - EPA's rule (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2019-0341) to designate PFOA and PFOS under the CERLA law or otherwise known as the Superfund law. OTHER: - General advocacy promoting farmers and ranchers' conservation efforts on ag operations as a way to express that more environmental regulations in production ag is not necessary. - Had conversations with FEMA on what resources they can offer PFB members. Transportation: General advocacy for reliable transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, railroads, locks and dams, inland waterways, etc). Chemicals/Chemical Industry: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act, which would reaffirm and strengthen federal law to prevent the emergence of an inconsistent state or local pesticide labels. - Reintroduction of the Agriculture PFAs Liability Protection Act, which would exempt farming from any PFAS liability. - Reintroduction of the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act, which would authorize USDA to provide grants to state and territories to address PFAS contamination on farms. OTHER: - Conversations prior to RFK Jr's confirmation hearing with Senator Fetterman and McCormick's offices on including questions in questioning that involve not taking away farmer's crop protection tools. - Provided PFB members with talking points for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) - Signed onto coalition letter to support the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act. - Worked with legislators regarding the MAHA campaign and how it is important to not eliminate farmer's crop protection tools (pesticides) if they are backed by EPA and safe to use as long as it is applied as instructed. - Advocacy in general to encourage legislators to support pesticide labeling that is scientifically sound and consistent across states. Foreign Relations: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.886/H.R.1920, the Farmland Security Act, which would amend and modernize the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. - H.R.1713, the Agricultural Risk Review Act, which would add the USDA Secretary as a permanent member on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). - S.732/H.R.1576, the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act, which would add the USDA Secretary to CFIUS and require them to report certain transactions involving certain countries or their citizens to CFIUS. Economics/Economic Development: - General advocacy to reduce inflation and agricultural input costs, especially for small businesses and family farms. - Asked Senator Fetterman's office if the Senator plans to ask AFBF President Duvall any questions for Senate Ag hearing regarding the farm economy. Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - H.R.1624, the Supporting Farm Operations Act, which would freeze the H-2A program's Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) at the level that was established in 2023 until end of 2025. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - DOL's March 2023 AEWR calculation/methodology rule (Docket #: ETA-2021-0006), which has increased H-2A employers' labor costs even more by changing the methodology for how the AEWR is calculated. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - Had conversations with PA House and Senate Members over PFB's concerns with OSHA's proposed rulemaking regarding heat illness (Docket #:OSHA-2021-0009). This would protect indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat, and obtain additional information about the extent and nature of hazardous heat in the workplace and the nature and effectiveness of interventions and controls used to prevent heat-related injury and illness. However, the provisions would be extremely difficult for agricultural employers to comply with because the temperature for when the proposed rule kicks in would be 85 degrees. OTHER: - Worked with Brian Pasternak (DOL) on doing a webinar for PFB members on the H-2A program. - General advocacy to have discussions to reform the H-2A program. Clean Air and Water (quality): WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES (WOTUS): - Worked on recommendations, per Administrator Zeldin's request (EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0093), for a new WOTUS definition. - Opposed EPA's 2023 "Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States" - Conforming" (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OW-2023-0346). The Agencies did not take the opportunity after the Supreme Court decision to properly clarify vagueness in the rule. OTHER: - Expressed feasibility, testing compliancy, and research concerns of EPA's PFAS drinking water rule (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114) to House and Senate Members. Energy/Nuclear: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Lower Energy Costs Act, which would address high energy costs by increasing the production of American energy and reducing regulatory burdens through comprehensive permitting reform. OTHER: - Conversations with solar companies regarding the use of agrivoltaics. - Supported President Trump's February 14 Executive Order to establish the National Energy Dominance Council. - Advocated for Congressional action and/or Executive Orders to make America energy independent, expand our energy resource portfolio, secure our electric grid from vulnerabilities, and balance renewable and conventional sources of energy in addition to strategic placement of renewables (i.e. limit solar on productive farmland). Immigration: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act, which would codify visa interview waiver authority for H-2 workers and extend the validity of a companys visa petitions and labor certifications. - Reintroduction of the Farmworker Access and Waiver Act (FAWA), which would waive the interview requirement for returning H-2A visa workers who were previously approved. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - Reintroduction of the Illegal Labor Accountability Act, which would increase the civil penalties for employers who hire unauthorized migrants. OTHER: - Addressed concerns with President Trump's Executive Orders surrounding border security with PA House and Senate Members. Specifically, advocated that we have to ensure there is a balance between securing the border and ensuring agriculture employers have a dependable workforce. - Fielded calls from members concerned about President Trump's Executive orders regarding deportation. Provided them talking points for the issue. - Meetings with stakeholders on President Trump's Executive orders regarding deportation. Railroads: None Fuel/Gas/Oil: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.593/H.R.1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would authorize year-round E15 sales. OTHER: - Asked PFB members to complete E15 Action Alert. - General advocacy for lowering gas and diesel (on and off road) prices. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.222/H.R.649, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would permit schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. - Reintroduction of the Giving Increased Variety to Ensure Milk Into the Lives of Kids (GIVE MILK) Act, which would allow participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program over the age of two to receive 2% reduced fat or whole milk. - Reintroduction of the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese To Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (DAIRY PRIDE) Act, which would prohibit the sale of any food that uses the market name of a dairy product (such as milk, yogurt, or cream cheese) unless the food (1)is the milk of a hooved animal, (2) is derived from such milk, or (3) contains such milk as a primary ingredient. - Reintroduction of the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act, which would ensure plant protein imitation meat/poultry and cell-cultured protein is accurately labeled. - Reintroduction of the Consistent Egg Labels Act, which would create a standard of identity for eggs to ensure plant based eggs are accurately labeled. - Reintroduction of the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act, which would exempt from federal inspection requirements animals and meats that are slaughtered and prepared at custom animal slaughter facilities for distribution within the state. Under current law, a custom slaughter exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered exclusively for personal, household, guest, or employee uses. - Secretary Rollins and Kennedy's commitment to revising the Dietary Guidelines so nutritious and wholesome foods like whole milk can be offered in schools again. OTHER: - Monitored MAHA campaign initiatives surrounding dyes in food. - Submitted Dan Kniffen as our nominee for USDA's National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Animals: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which would increase funding to fight foreign animal disease and extend authorization for the Animal Health Protection Act through 2028. - H.R.2462, the Black Vulture Relief Act, which would allow livestock producers to take black vultures without a permit if the bird is causing death or injury to their animals. - H.R. 1897, the ESA Amendments Act, which would update the outdated ESA by establishing clear statutory definitions, focusing on species recovery, and streamlining the ESA permitting process. - S.574/H.R.1376, the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act, which would make all poultry growers and layer operations within a HPAI control area eligible to receive payments from APHIS compensation program, rather than only flocks that test positive. - Supported Secretary Rollins' February 2025 5 pronged approach to combat HPAI. - S.545/H.R.1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance. - H.R.845, the Pets and Livestock Protection Act, which would delist the gray wolf from the ESA to protect livestock. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - H.R.1802, the Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics (SPARE) Act, which would prohibit the use of animals in federally funded research, promote humane alternatives and promote ethical rehoming of retired research animals. MONARCH BUTTERFLY: - Reviewed FWS' proposal to list the Monarch Butterfly as an endangered species (Docket #: FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137-0001). - Expressed concerns to legislators over the impact this will have on agriculture. - Worked with PFB members to comply information for comments to FWS. - Attended monarch butterfly presentation at AFBF Convention. HPAI: - Had conversations with PA House and Senate offices over HPAI concerns - importance of biosecurity, education, proper compensation, preventative methods, etc. - Listened to USDA calls and other webinar addressing strategies to prevent HPAI OTHER: - Reviewed APHIS' final rule (89 FR 39194-39251) to make changes to the Horse Protection Act that would impact members involved in the equestrian industry. - Established a PA Federal Wildlife Coalition to address issues such as the ESA, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, etc. - Sent House Natural Resource's Water, Fish, and Wildlife subcommittee support letter for Endangered Species Amendments Act - Meeting with PA's APHIS Wildlife Services and PFB member regarding problems with depredation permit for predator birds - Conversations regarding protections against screwworm in Mexican cattle. Asked PA House offices to sign onto New World Screwworm letter by Rep. Gonzales. Telecommunications: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.315/H.R.979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. - Reintroduction of the Precision Agriculture Loan (PAL) Act, which would offer low-cost and long-terms loans to agriculture producers who want to adopt precision agriculture technologies but cannot afford to through traditional financing. - Reintroduction of the Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment (PRECISE) Act, which would provide funding through existing USDA loan programs to help producers purchase precision agriculture equipment. NEUTRAL/MONTIORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - H.R.1705, the Supporting Innovation in Agriculture Act, which would establish a new tax credit for investment in any innovative agricultural technology projects. OTHER: - General lobbying of Congress to increase rural broadband connection and cell service. Natural Resources: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Restore the CSP Act, which would reauthorize the USDA-National Resource Conservation Services Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) back to 2014 Farm Bill funding levels by taking conservation dollars authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act and repurposing them to the next farm bill baseline for CSP. Budget/Appropriations: FY 25 APPROPS: - Supported H.R.1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, so that crucial U.S. Departments/Agencies can remain open. USDA STAFF/FUNDING CUTS: - Monitored staff/funding cuts across departments/agencies. - Had discussions with PA House and Senate offices about the importance of keeping FSA and NRCS offices adequately staffed and funded. - Asked PFB members to send me NRCS projects or FSA loans that were stopped due to funding cuts. NUTRITON PROGRAM FUNDING CUTS: - Conversations with PA House and Senate offices on USDA's decision to cut certain nutrition programs and the Congressional Democrats concerns over cuts to SNAP in the budget. - Advocated and had numerous conversations with USDA, PA Department of Agriculture, Rep. Thompson, and other stakeholders regarding PA's 13 million Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) contract. - Supported Governor Shapiro's request to reinstate PA's 13 million LFPA contract. - Provided PFB members with talking points regarding nutrition program cuts in addition to specific ones regarding background/PFB's position (to work in a bipartisan manner to reinstate the funds for PA) on the LFPA cuts. USAID: - Discussions with PFB members on impacts of Trump Administration's funding cuts of USAID in regards to certain nutrition programs USAID distributes. - Conversations with legislators regarding questions on FB's stance on USAID defunding. Small Business: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.469/H.R.1131, the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which would restore the exemptions family farm and small business assets from the FAFSA calculation process in higher education. BOI Filing Requirements: - Monitored and had discussions with PA House and Senate offices opposing Treasury's BOI filing requirement that was reinstated by court order in March. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting that the BOI injunction stay in place. - Ended up thanking Treasury for basically rescinding all the BOI filing requirements for American-based companies. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting Treasury's efforts to retract the BOI filing requirements. Trade (domestic/foreign): PROP 12: - Asked House and Senate offices in addition to Secretary Rollins to oppose California's Proposition 12 and Massachusetts' Question 3. Discussed harmful impacts of regulations like Prop 12 and Question 3 that force arbitrary and unscientific growing practices on other states causing a patchwork of different regulations across state lines which in turn impacts Interstate Commerce. - Asked to support GT's solution from H.R.8467 last Congress, which would be a legislative fix to Prop 12 and Question 3 by establishing USDA and FDA as the national standard for food that can be moved between state lines. Meaning, CA and MA have every right to implement those growing practices for their states' producers and within their state, but Interstate Commerce does not allow for them to force other states' producers to adapt to these growing practices if they want to sell to CA or MA. - Discussed Prop 12 concerns with representatives from Canada. OTHER: - Had many conversations with PA House and Senate members in addition to USDA regarding PFB member's concerns regarding President Trump's tariffs. - Provided PFB members with talking points on trade. - Conversations with Rep. Smucker's office to discuss questions to ask in Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade meeting regarding agriculture. - Monitored the issue of countries importing "organic" products that have contaminants. - Had conversations with PA House and Senate offices of PFB's concerns with Canada not abiding by the USMCA dairy trade agreement. - Informed PA House and Senate offices of the good news that the U.S. won in the trade dispute over Mexico banning imports of bio-tech corn. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.213/H.R.703, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which would make permanent the 20% deduction for small- and individually-owned businesses (Section 199A). - S.587/H.R.1301, the Death Tax Repeal Act, which would Would repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. It also makes conforming amendments related to the gift tax. - Reintroduction of the Preserving Family Farms Act, which would modernize Section 2032A Special Use Valuation by increasing the amount of farmland that can be valued for farming operations rather than development value. - Reintroduction of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, which would extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Specifically, it would extend 100% bonus depreciation, retroactive to 2023, through the end of 2025 and raises the cap on Section 179 expensing. OTHER: - Prepared PFB member with materials to advocate for our tax asks in a video. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting the Main Street Tax Certainty Act. - Met with PA House and Senate offices to discuss need to extend certain TCJA provisions and pass a comprehensive tax package in 2025 to provide farmers and ranchers economic stability. Education: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the All Children Are Equal (ACE) Act, would eliminate the number weighting system used to distribute Title I grants to ensure that school districts are treated equally based upon their percentages of poverty, rather than population. - Reintroduction of the Growing Opportunities in Agriculture (GO Ag) Act, which would create a $5 million grant program within the Department of Education to help CTE schools cover the startup costs associated with agriculture education programs. - Reintroduction of the Young Farmer Success Act, which would make certain farmers and ranchers eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. OTHER: - Advocated for USDA to restore the Farm to School Grant, worked with Rep. Thompson's office on the issue as well.

Reported lobbying issue

Agriculture: FARM BILL: - Urged House and Senate Members to introduce text and pass a farm bill ASAP. - Worked with AFBF on providing intel for farm bill by listening to legislator's asks in the next farm bill. - Met with PA delegation's offices to discuss farm bill priorities (strong risk management programs, keeping nutrition programs in the farm bill, improving rural development resources such as broadband and precision ag technologies, increasing funding for land-grant universities' research facilities, increasing access to rural childcare, asking for legislative fix to Prop 12, among many other initiatives) in farm bill. See Section 24 - Trade - of this report for information on lobbying efforts for Prop 12. - Attended GT's Farm Bill Listening Session at Farm Show - Attended GT and RM Craig's Farm Bill Listening Session at AFBF Convention - Met with PSU Leadership to discuss the importance of Title X (Research) funding in the farm bill for land grant universities' research facilities. ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Biomanufacturing and Jobs Act, which would strengthen USDA's BioPreferred Program. This program increases market access for bio-based products and ensures America maintains its status as the worlds leader in biomanufacturing. - S.910, the Farm Ownership Improvement Act, which would require USDA to implement a pre-qualification or pre-approval process for all farmers and ranchers seeking FSA Direct Farm Ownership loans. - Reintroduction of the Specialty Crop Security Act, which would increase USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program authorization from $85 to $100 million per year and expand opportunities for specialty crop stakeholders to provide input into how program funding is used by state departments of agriculture. - S.581/H.R.295, the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act, which would mandate cost and yield surveying of processors to participate in the NDPSR survey every two years. - Reintroduction of the the Industrial Hemp Act, which would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid hemp like that used in the extraction of CBD. - Reintroduction of the the Expanding Childcare in Rural America Act, which would direct USDA to authorize and prioritize projects that address the availability, quality, and cost of childcare in agricultural and rural communities. - Reintroduction of the the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which would designate spotted lanternflies as a high priority pest under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture to direct more federal research dollars to combat these devastating insects. - S.741/H.R.1613, the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act, which would require a USDA study on providing crop insurance for mushroom farmers. - S.1073/H.R.2117, the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act, which would help our next generation of farmers by aligning the definition of Beginning Farmers to match that of other USDA programs - 10 crop years or less instead of the status quo of 5 crop years or less. - S.156/H.R.575, the Increased TSP Access Act, which would help streamline the technical service provider (TSP) certification at NRCS and leverage the programs and technical expertise of NRCS to make conservation programs available to more farmers and on more land. - Reintroduction of the the GusNIP Expansion Act, which would enhance and expand the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP), which awards competitive grant funding to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for projects that provide incentives to income-eligible consumers to increase their purchase of fruits and vegetables. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - Reintroduction of the Farm Risk Abatement and Mitigation Election (FRAME) Act, which would establish tax-deferred farm savings accounts that allows farmers to independently prepare for and mitigate the financial impact of disasters. - Reintroduction of the Save Our Small Farms Act, which would provide a safety net by expanding the number of farms eligible to purchase crop insurance, lower coverage costs for small farms, and direct USDA to develop more responsive coverage options for farmers during extreme weather. - Reintroduction of the Fair Credit for Farmers Act, which aims to improve farmers' access to credit from the Farm Service Agency by increasing accountability, offering more flexible terms, and establishing stronger borrower protections. - S.838/H.R.1822, the ACRE Act, which would exclude from the gross income of certain financial lending institutions, for income tax purposes, interest received on loans secured by rural or agricultural real estate. - H.R.2203, the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act, which would would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to establish a new category of animal food additives. - S.1050, the Forest Conservation Easement Program (FCEP) Act, which would prevent the conversion of forests into non-forest areas by authorizing funding to purchase development rights from willing private landowners. - H.R.2253, the Puppy Protection Act, which would require USDA to expand standards that govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of animals to include new requirements for commercial dog dealers. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE / DISASTER RELIEF FUNDS: - Advocated for USDA to release the $10 billion in economic assistance and $20.8 billion in disaster relief assistance from H.R.10545 (FY25 December 2024 CR). - Outreach to inform PFB members about the release of economic assistance funds under the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP). - Listened to stakeholder webinars to learn more about ECAP. - Thanked USDA for releasing the economic assistance funds by the March 19 deadline. - Call with State Farm Bureaus to discuss how we would like the disaster relief funds to be distributed to give feedback to USDA. OTHER: - Attended and advocated for priorities such as whole milk in schools, economic assistance and disaster relief funds, farm bill, reinstating funds for the LFPA program, HPAI, labor, and trade during Secretary Rollins visit to Lebanon, PA. - Assisted USDA in the planning and execution of a roundtable with Secretary Rollins and regional Farm Bureau members to discuss HPAI, trade, labor, and other pressing agricultural issues. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting Stephen Vaden as the Deputy Secretary of USDA. - Informed PA House and Senate offices of PFB's 2025 priorities (animal health, dairy, energy, environment/regulatory reform, farm bill (including Prop 12), labor, transportation, and wildlife). - Recommended Michael Cabell of Luzerne County for PA's USDA Rural Development Director. - Recommended Michael Kerr of Clearfield County PA's USDA FSA Executive Director. Originally, advocated for Harrison Frantz of Franklin County for FSA State Executive Director, but he had to withdraw his name for personal reasons. - Networked and discussed PFB's priorities with legislators and their staff at Farm Show. - Reviewed USDA's proposed final decision for the Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs)(Docket #: AMS-DA-23-0031) and emailed PA House and Senate Members that PFB's position is the same as it was in the recommended decision. Specifically, supported a switchback either to the higher of in Class I milk. Additionally, asked Congress Members to support requiring mandatory audited surveying for make allowance changes in the FMMOs. - Worked with Rep. Kelly's office on FWS' proposal to take land via eminent domain in PA-16. - Provided PFB member with talking points for Rep. Houlahan's agriculture forum. Education: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the All Children Are Equal (ACE) Act, would eliminate the number weighting system used to distribute Title I grants to ensure that school districts are treated equally based upon their percentages of poverty, rather than population. - Reintroduction of the Growing Opportunities in Agriculture (GO Ag) Act, which would create a $5 million grant program within the Department of Education to help CTE schools cover the startup costs associated with agriculture education programs. - Reintroduction of the Young Farmer Success Act, which would make certain farmers and ranchers eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. OTHER: - Advocated for USDA to restore the Farm to School Grant, worked with Rep. Thompson's office on the issue as well. Budget/Appropriations: FY 25 APPROPS: - Supported H.R.1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, so that crucial U.S. Departments/Agencies can remain open. USDA STAFF/FUNDING CUTS: - Monitored staff/funding cuts across departments/agencies. - Had discussions with PA House and Senate offices about the importance of keeping FSA and NRCS offices adequately staffed and funded. - Asked PFB members to send me NRCS projects or FSA loans that were stopped due to funding cuts. NUTRITON PROGRAM FUNDING CUTS: - Conversations with PA House and Senate offices on USDA's decision to cut certain nutrition programs and the Congressional Democrats concerns over cuts to SNAP in the budget. - Advocated and had numerous conversations with USDA, PA Department of Agriculture, Rep. Thompson, and other stakeholders regarding PA's 13 million Local Food Purchasing Agreement (LFPA) contract. - Supported Governor Shapiro's request to reinstate PA's 13 million LFPA contract. - Provided PFB members with talking points regarding nutrition program cuts in addition to specific ones regarding background/PFB's position (to work in a bipartisan manner to reinstate the funds for PA) on the LFPA cuts. USAID: - Discussions with PFB members on impacts of Trump Administration's funding cuts of USAID in regards to certain nutrition programs USAID distributes. - Conversations with legislators regarding questions on FB's stance on USAID defunding. Environment/Superfund: ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - No bill # yet, the Agriculture Resilience Act, which would aim to reduce agriculture emissions by 50% before 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. - EPA's rule (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OLEM-2019-0341) to designate PFOA and PFOS under the CERLA law or otherwise known as the Superfund law. OTHER: - General advocacy promoting farmers and ranchers' conservation efforts on ag operations as a way to express that more environmental regulations in production ag is not necessary. - Had conversations with FEMA on what resources they can offer PFB members. Transportation: General advocacy for reliable transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, railroads, locks and dams, inland waterways, etc). Chemicals/Chemical Industry: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act, which would reaffirm and strengthen federal law to prevent the emergence of an inconsistent state or local pesticide labels. - Reintroduction of the Agriculture PFAs Liability Protection Act, which would exempt farming from any PFAS liability. - Reintroduction of the Relief for Farmers Hit with PFAS Act, which would authorize USDA to provide grants to state and territories to address PFAS contamination on farms. OTHER: - Conversations prior to RFK Jr's confirmation hearing with Senator Fetterman and McCormick's offices on including questions in questioning that involve not taking away farmer's crop protection tools. - Provided PFB members with talking points for the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) - Signed onto coalition letter to support the Agricultural Labeling Uniformity Act. - Worked with legislators regarding the MAHA campaign and how it is important to not eliminate farmer's crop protection tools (pesticides) if they are backed by EPA and safe to use as long as it is applied as instructed. - Advocacy in general to encourage legislators to support pesticide labeling that is scientifically sound and consistent across states. Foreign Relations: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.886/H.R.1920, the Farmland Security Act, which would amend and modernize the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978. - H.R.1713, the Agricultural Risk Review Act, which would add the USDA Secretary as a permanent member on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). - S.732/H.R.1576, the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act, which would add the USDA Secretary to CFIUS and require them to report certain transactions involving certain countries or their citizens to CFIUS. Economics/Economic Development: - General advocacy to reduce inflation and agricultural input costs, especially for small businesses and family farms. - Asked Senator Fetterman's office if the Senator plans to ask AFBF President Duvall any questions for Senate Ag hearing regarding the farm economy. Labor Issues/Antitrust/Workplace: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - H.R.1624, the Supporting Farm Operations Act, which would freeze the H-2A program's Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) at the level that was established in 2023 until end of 2025. ASKED TO OPPOSE THE FOLLOWING: - DOL's March 2023 AEWR calculation/methodology rule (Docket #: ETA-2021-0006), which has increased H-2A employers' labor costs even more by changing the methodology for how the AEWR is calculated. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - Had conversations with PA House and Senate Members over PFB's concerns with OSHA's proposed rulemaking regarding heat illness (Docket #:OSHA-2021-0009). This would protect indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat, and obtain additional information about the extent and nature of hazardous heat in the workplace and the nature and effectiveness of interventions and controls used to prevent heat-related injury and illness. However, the provisions would be extremely difficult for agricultural employers to comply with because the temperature for when the proposed rule kicks in would be 85 degrees. OTHER: - Worked with Brian Pasternak (DOL) on doing a webinar for PFB members on the H-2A program. - General advocacy to have discussions to reform the H-2A program. Clean Air and Water (quality): WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES (WOTUS): - Worked on recommendations, per Administrator Zeldin's request (EPA-HQ-OW-2025-0093), for a new WOTUS definition. - Opposed EPA's 2023 "Revised Definition of "Waters of the United States" - Conforming" (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OW-2023-0346). The Agencies did not take the opportunity after the Supreme Court decision to properly clarify vagueness in the rule. OTHER: - Expressed feasibility, testing compliancy, and research concerns of EPA's PFAS drinking water rule (Docket #: EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0114) to House and Senate Members. Energy/Nuclear: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Lower Energy Costs Act, which would address high energy costs by increasing the production of American energy and reducing regulatory burdens through comprehensive permitting reform. OTHER: - Conversations with solar companies regarding the use of agrivoltaics. - Supported President Trump's February 14 Executive Order to establish the National Energy Dominance Council. - Advocated for Congressional action and/or Executive Orders to make America energy independent, expand our energy resource portfolio, secure our electric grid from vulnerabilities, and balance renewable and conventional sources of energy in addition to strategic placement of renewables (i.e. limit solar on productive farmland). Immigration: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the H-2 Improvements to Relieve Employers (HIRE) Act, which would codify visa interview waiver authority for H-2 workers and extend the validity of a companys visa petitions and labor certifications. - Reintroduction of the Farmworker Access and Waiver Act (FAWA), which would waive the interview requirement for returning H-2A visa workers who were previously approved. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - Reintroduction of the Illegal Labor Accountability Act, which would increase the civil penalties for employers who hire unauthorized migrants. OTHER: - Addressed concerns with President Trump's Executive Orders surrounding border security with PA House and Senate Members. Specifically, advocated that we have to ensure there is a balance between securing the border and ensuring agriculture employers have a dependable workforce. - Fielded calls from members concerned about President Trump's Executive orders regarding deportation. Provided them talking points for the issue. - Meetings with stakeholders on President Trump's Executive orders regarding deportation. Railroads: None Fuel/Gas/Oil: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.593/H.R.1346, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would authorize year-round E15 sales. OTHER: - Asked PFB members to complete E15 Action Alert. - General advocacy for lowering gas and diesel (on and off road) prices. Food Industry (safety, labeling, etc.): ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.222/H.R.649, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would permit schools to offer students whole, reduced-fat, low-fat, and fat-free flavored and unflavored milk. - Reintroduction of the Giving Increased Variety to Ensure Milk Into the Lives of Kids (GIVE MILK) Act, which would allow participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program over the age of two to receive 2% reduced fat or whole milk. - Reintroduction of the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese To Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday (DAIRY PRIDE) Act, which would prohibit the sale of any food that uses the market name of a dairy product (such as milk, yogurt, or cream cheese) unless the food (1)is the milk of a hooved animal, (2) is derived from such milk, or (3) contains such milk as a primary ingredient. - Reintroduction of the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation (FAIR) on Labels Act, which would ensure plant protein imitation meat/poultry and cell-cultured protein is accurately labeled. - Reintroduction of the Consistent Egg Labels Act, which would create a standard of identity for eggs to ensure plant based eggs are accurately labeled. - Reintroduction of the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act, which would exempt from federal inspection requirements animals and meats that are slaughtered and prepared at custom animal slaughter facilities for distribution within the state. Under current law, a custom slaughter exemption applies if the meat is slaughtered exclusively for personal, household, guest, or employee uses. - Secretary Rollins and Kennedy's commitment to revising the Dietary Guidelines so nutritious and wholesome foods like whole milk can be offered in schools again. OTHER: - Monitored MAHA campaign initiatives surrounding dyes in food. - Submitted Dan Kniffen as our nominee for USDA's National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods Animals: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which would increase funding to fight foreign animal disease and extend authorization for the Animal Health Protection Act through 2028. - H.R.2462, the Black Vulture Relief Act, which would allow livestock producers to take black vultures without a permit if the bird is causing death or injury to their animals. - H.R. 1897, the ESA Amendments Act, which would update the outdated ESA by establishing clear statutory definitions, focusing on species recovery, and streamlining the ESA permitting process. - S.574/H.R.1376, the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification Act, which would make all poultry growers and layer operations within a HPAI control area eligible to receive payments from APHIS compensation program, rather than only flocks that test positive. - Supported Secretary Rollins' February 2025 5 pronged approach to combat HPAI. - S.545/H.R.1266, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which would schedule xylazine as a controlled substance. - H.R.845, the Pets and Livestock Protection Act, which would delist the gray wolf from the ESA to protect livestock. NEUTRAL/MONITORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - H.R.1802, the Safeguard Pets, Animals, and Research Ethics (SPARE) Act, which would prohibit the use of animals in federally funded research, promote humane alternatives and promote ethical rehoming of retired research animals. MONARCH BUTTERFLY: - Reviewed FWS' proposal to list the Monarch Butterfly as an endangered species (Docket #: FWS-R3-ES-2024-0137-0001). - Expressed concerns to legislators over the impact this will have on agriculture. - Worked with PFB members to comply information for comments to FWS. - Attended monarch butterfly presentation at AFBF Convention. HPAI: - Had conversations with PA House and Senate offices over HPAI concerns - importance of biosecurity, education, proper compensation, preventative methods, etc. - Listened to USDA calls and other webinar addressing strategies to prevent HPAI OTHER: - Reviewed APHIS' final rule (89 FR 39194-39251) to make changes to the Horse Protection Act that would impact members involved in the equestrian industry. - Established a PA Federal Wildlife Coalition to address issues such as the ESA, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, etc. - Sent House Natural Resource's Water, Fish, and Wildlife subcommittee support letter for Endangered Species Amendments Act - Meeting with PA's APHIS Wildlife Services and PFB member regarding problems with depredation permit for predator birds - Conversations regarding protections against screwworm in Mexican cattle. Asked PA House offices to sign onto New World Screwworm letter by Rep. Gonzales. Telecommunications: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.315/H.R.979, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue a rule that requires all new motor vehicles to have devices that can access AM broadcast stations installed as standard equipment. - Reintroduction of the Precision Agriculture Loan (PAL) Act, which would offer low-cost and long-terms loans to agriculture producers who want to adopt precision agriculture technologies but cannot afford to through traditional financing. - Reintroduction of the Producing Responsible Energy and Conservation Incentives and Solutions for the Environment (PRECISE) Act, which would provide funding through existing USDA loan programs to help producers purchase precision agriculture equipment. NEUTRAL/MONTIORED BUT NOT LOBBIED BILLS: - H.R.1705, the Supporting Innovation in Agriculture Act, which would establish a new tax credit for investment in any innovative agricultural technology projects. OTHER: - General lobbying of Congress to increase rural broadband connection and cell service. Natural Resources: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - Reintroduction of the Restore the CSP Act, which would reauthorize the USDA-National Resource Conservation Services Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) back to 2014 Farm Bill funding levels by taking conservation dollars authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act and repurposing them to the next farm bill baseline for CSP. Small Business: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.469/H.R.1131, the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which would restore the exemptions family farm and small business assets from the FAFSA calculation process in higher education. BOI Filing Requirements: - Monitored and had discussions with PA House and Senate offices opposing Treasury's BOI filing requirement that was reinstated by court order in March. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting that the BOI injunction stay in place. - Ended up thanking Treasury for basically rescinding all the BOI filing requirements for American-based companies. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting Treasury's efforts to retract the BOI filing requirements. Trade (domestic/foreign): PROP 12: - Asked House and Senate offices in addition to Secretary Rollins to oppose California's Proposition 12 and Massachusetts' Question 3. Discussed harmful impacts of regulations like Prop 12 and Question 3 that force arbitrary and unscientific growing practices on other states causing a patchwork of different regulations across state lines which in turn impacts Interstate Commerce. - Asked to support GT's solution from H.R.8467 last Congress, which would be a legislative fix to Prop 12 and Question 3 by establishing USDA and FDA as the national standard for food that can be moved between state lines. Meaning, CA and MA have every right to implement those growing practices for their states' producers and within their state, but Interstate Commerce does not allow for them to force other states' producers to adapt to these growing practices if they want to sell to CA or MA. - Discussed Prop 12 concerns with representatives from Canada. OTHER: - Had many conversations with PA House and Senate members in addition to USDA regarding PFB member's concerns regarding President Trump's tariffs. - Provided PFB members with talking points on trade. - Conversations with Rep. Smucker's office to discuss questions to ask in Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade meeting regarding agriculture. - Monitored the issue of countries importing "organic" products that have contaminants. - Had conversations with PA House and Senate offices of PFB's concerns with Canada not abiding by the USMCA dairy trade agreement. - Informed PA House and Senate offices of the good news that the U.S. won in the trade dispute over Mexico banning imports of bio-tech corn. Taxation/Internal Revenue Code: ASKED TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING: - S.213/H.R.703, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which would make permanent the 20% deduction for small- and individually-owned businesses (Section 199A). - S.587/H.R.1301, the Death Tax Repeal Act, which would Would repeal the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes. It also makes conforming amendments related to the gift tax. - Reintroduction of the Preserving Family Farms Act, which would modernize Section 2032A Special Use Valuation by increasing the amount of farmland that can be valued for farming operations rather than development value. - Reintroduction of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, which would extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Specifically, it would extend 100% bonus depreciation, retroactive to 2023, through the end of 2025 and raises the cap on Section 179 expensing. OTHER: - Prepared PFB member with materials to advocate for our tax asks in a video. - Signed onto coalition letter supporting the Main Street Tax Certainty Act. - Met with PA House and Senate offices to discuss need to extend certain TCJA provisions and pass a comprehensive tax package in 2025 to provide farmers and ranchers economic stability.