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USDA Announces Additional Farm Service Agency and Rural Development State Directors

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2021 – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint four U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional positions, including four Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Directors and five Rural Development (RD) State Directors.

USDA, DOI, and FEMA Jointly Establish New Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of the Interior (DOI) and Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today announced the establishment of a Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission. Establishing this Commission fulfills a key provision of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and represents a critical step in combating the nation’s wildfire crisis and improving resilience in America’s landscapes.

ACE Portal Modernization

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is modernizing the ACE Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal) over multiple phases in 2022. The modernization effort will entail the transition of existing functionality to an upgraded platform, offering easier use...

USDA Distributes $1.5 Billion to Strengthen School Meal Program

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2021 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is announcing today that the Biden-Harris Administration is providing up to $1.5 billion to states and school districts to help school meal program operators deal with the challenges of supply chain disruptions brought on by the pandemic. As the administration continues to work towards Building a Better America by investing in our communities, the funding announced today will help to provide our nation’s children with the nutritious foods they need to thrive.

Transportation and Agriculture Departments Urge End to Reduced and Poor Service for U.S. Grown Agricultural Commodities

Washington, Dec. 17, 2021 – Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack urged the world’s leading ocean carriers to help mitigate disruptions to agricultural shippers of U.S. exports and relieve supply chain disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic by restoring reciprocal treatment of imports and exports and improving service. Ocean carriers have made fewer containers available for U.S.

EPA Announces Plans to Use First $1B from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds to Clear Out the Superfund Backlog

EPA Announces Four Michigan Sites Selected to Receive Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds to Clear Out the Superfund Backlog

EPA Announces Plans to Use Funds from Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to Expedite Cleanup at North Penn 6 Superfund Site