Obama Administration

The deadline for the U.S. to negotiate bilateral trade deals with the U.K. and Kenya under rules for streamlined Congressional approval has expired. Technically, current Trade Promotion Authority allowing up-or-down votes on trade deals with no amendments, expires June 30th ...

On January 3rd, 1961 President Eisenhower's Press Secretary, James Haggerty, announced that the U.S. was severing diplomatic relations with Cuba. That was followed by a trade embargo and the closing of the U.S. Embassy on the island nation ...

On Wednesday, Oregon’s Cliff Bentz crafted a letter, signed by nine members of the House, asking the Department of the Interior to implement a federal rule pushed in January revising the designation of the critical habitat of the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO). If ...

Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack, recently noted the impact of SNAP, is more than just helping to feed people. "For every dollar that we spend in SNAP, we generate economic activity" Vilsack compared the numbers to figures from when he served as USDA head during the Obama Administration ...

The Department of Agriculture this week announced the appointment of Oscar Gonzales as Assistant Secretary for administration. Gonzales, nominated by President Biden, previously served in the Obama administration in several senior positions with USDA, including Deputy Assistant Secretary for administration ...

According to a recent Farm Futures survey, farmers feel threatened by potential policy objectives under the Biden administration. The survey shows nearly nine out of ten farmers believe taxes will go up under the current administration. Another 71% believe WOTUS will be overturned ...

Last week, Senate Democrats introduced a bill to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba. Senate Finance Committee Chair, Oregon’s Ron Wyden introduced the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2021 to repeal sanctions on Cuba and establish normal trade relations with the island nation. W ...

Joe Biden’s Agriculture Secretary nominee pledges to address discrimination across the Department of Agriculture. In the Senate Agriculture Committee confirmation hearing, Tom Vilsack told lawmakers he will also seek to remove barriers to access for anyone who qualifies for nutrition assistance. I ...

Dan Newhouse says the return of Tom Vilsack as head of the USDA will be a good one for Northwest producers. Newhouse said Vilsack, who served as Ag Secretary for eight years under President Obama, understands the unique issues facing the local farm community ...

What could the USDA look like under the Biden administration? A one-time member of the Obama Administration recently offered some insight into what the Department of Ag may look like in 2021 and beyond. Phillip Karsting, is the former Administrator of the USDA’s Foreign Ag Service under President Obama, as well as the former Interim President of the World Food Program. He ...