WHAT HAPPENED: USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins made her second annual appearance before the House Agriculture Committee yesterday in a hearing that touched on a wide-ranging list of topics, from the recent finding of New World Screwworm in Texas to SNAP funding and work-requirement changes to USDA’s reorganization plan.
WHY IT MATTERS: One of the hearing’s recurring themes was the recent House-passed Farm, Food, and National Security Act, also known as the Farm Bill. This bill includes an amendment to add hot rotisserie chicken to SNAP eligibility, which is one of NCC’s priorities.
SNAP CHANGES: The most contentious parts of the hearing were in discussions over SNAP changes made by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” last summer. Numerous Democratic committee members addressed the falling participation in the program and the work requirements enacted in the OBBB as effectively cutting the program. Rollins defended the changes, noting that the roughly 4.5 million fewer participants in the program as a result of work requirements is restoring program integrity.
USDA REORGANIZATION: Rollins also defended USDA’s ongoing restructuring, which impacts many areas of the department and would move staff away from the Washington, D.C. region.
NEW WORLD SCREWWORM: Rollins addressed the recently confirmed detection of NWS, the first U.S. detection since the 1960’s, and sought to reassure members of the committee of USDA’s response to the detection. She noted that USDA has been working with other government agencies and preparing for a potential detection for over a year, including standing up the sterile-fly facility in South Texas and the suspension of live animal imports from Mexico.
WHAT’S NEXT: Secretary Rollins will testify before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday, June 10, at 10 am EST. A link to the livestream of that hearing can be found here.
Secretary Rollins testifies at the hearing on Thursday. Source: Reuters
