Capitol Hill This Week; Feed Additive Legislation; Whole Milk

Capitol Hill Focused This Week on Border, Taxes
Now that lawmakers have bought themselves some time on the annual budget front, with last week’s passage of a stop-gap funding measure through February, the focus this past week was on several other high-profile issues. In the Senate, several lawmakers have been negotiating since last fall on the text of a deal to secure the southern U.S. border, which is likely to be paired with additional authorization for military aid to Ukraine as well as support for Israel and Taiwan. The prospects of House passage of that deal are especially shaky because of the looming presidential campaign pressures that are already being felt inside the Beltway. 

Meanwhile, the House has been taking the lead on development of a tax package that includes increased limits on the Section 179 expensing provision, a temporary restoration of 100% bonus depreciation and expansion of the child tax credit. The package doesn’t yet have broad bipartisan appeal in the Senate, and even some Republicans in the House are opposed. As this transpires, the House Ag Committee continues to work behind the scenes on the next farm bill, which could debut in March or April.
 
NMPF Continues Campaign for Feed Additive Legislation
Also on Capitol Hill, we’re continuing to pursue the passage in the House and Senate of the Innovative FEED Act (H.R. 6687, S. 1842), which would enable the Food and Drug Administration to expeditiously review and approve animal feed ingredients that can reduce enteric methane emissions. This legislation is critical to speeding FDA approval, using the agency’s Food Additive Petition process, of Elanco’s 3-NOP (Bovaer) and similar future products.

 
In addition to the legislation I mentioned in the first story, Congress is also hoping to complete work on a broad health care package in early March. We are hoping that that package will incorporate the Innovative FEED Act. The Senate HELP Committee has already approved the bill on a strong 19-2 vote, but we continue to work to secure additional support in the House. We’ll be working with our member cooperatives and other organizations to build momentum in the House so that the FEED Act can advance in this Congress. Stay tuned for an advocacy alert that you can use to contact your House members!
 
Battle for Whole Milk Continues on Capitol Hill, Dietary Guidelines
NMPF is pursuing a two-front campaign to bolster the consumption of whole milk, and 2024 will be a critical year in that effort, according to our latest Dairy Defined podcast featuring NMPF’s Head of Nutrition Policy Claudia Larson, and Regulatory Affairs Director Miquela Hanselman.  Now that the House has passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, our effort shifts to the Senate, where we hope a companion bill receives a vote this year. At the same time, we are also asking the government’s Dietary Guidelines review committee to examine the latest nutrition science that provides a stronger rationale for the return of 2% and whole milk in the nation’s dietary guidance. You can use this form at our website to urge senators to support the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act.