CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS AND SEALERS ASSOCIATION

AGR · Agriculture

Issues relating to the Comprehensive Pest Prevention Program Analysis Project (C3PA), including findings and recommendations concerning Californias agricultural pest prevention infrastructure, program capacity, and funding needs. Focus on strengthening federal support and investment in state and local pest prevention, detection, exclusion, and response programs to safeguard California agriculture. Issues relating to USDA support and federal resources to mitigate the spread of glassy-winged sharpshooter, a vector of Pierces disease, resulting from 2-state, interstate nursery shipments containing various life stages of the pest. Focus on federal and state response coordination, funding availability, and measures to strengthen nursery stock safeguards. Issues relating to USDA-APHIS Plant Protection Act (PPA) Section 7721 funding opportunities and development of a proposed Clean Nursery Stock Pathway initiative to strengthen nursery pest prevention, certification, traceability, surveillance, and response capabilities. Remaining FY 2026 unsequestered funds from PPA Section 7721 Rapid Response were committed to fruit fly eradication efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and pasture mealybug response activities. Issues relating to USDA-APHIS-PPQ implementation of the Plant Protection Act (PPA) Section 7721 Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program for FY 2027, including review panel participation, evaluation of project proposals, funding priorities, and opportunities to strengthen federal-state cooperation in plant pest prevention, detection, and response activities. Support S. 5526, Agricultural Act of 2026 Section 12105, authorizing additional training facilities and cooperative agreements for USDA agricultural detector-dog teams. Focus on expanding training capacity, improving access to detector-dog training for state agricultural agencies, and securing federal resources to strengthen agricultural pest detection and prevention programs. Issues relating to S. 5526, the Agricultural Act of 2026, and proposed amendments concerning federal pesticide regulation and state preemption. Support H.R. 7567 Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, Section 12003, authorizing additional training facilities and cooperative agreements for the USDA National Detector Dog Training Center. Focus on expanding agricultural detector-dog training capacity, establishing regional training opportunities, improving access for state and local agricultural agencies, and strengthening federal-state cooperation in agricultural pest detection and prevention. Issues relating to the proposed U.S. Forest Service reorganization and its potential impacts on California national forest management, invasive-species prevention, hazardous-fuels reduction, and federal-state cooperative programs. Issues relating to USDA-APHIS Plant Protection Act (PPA) Section 7721 funding for citrus research proposals previously reviewed and declined by other research funding organizations. Focus included project evaluation criteria, funding priorities, and the appropriate use of federal pest prevention and management funds to support research activities. Issues relating to H.R. 9976, legislation to amend the Plant Protection Act to establish a fund for spotted wing drosophila research and mitigation, and H.R. 4708, the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act. USDA-APHIS progress toward approval of Dryinus sinicus, a parasitic wasp being evaluated as a biological control agent for spotted lanternfly, including ongoing assessments of potential impacts on native species. Issues relating to annual costs of USDA-APHIS-PPQ Agricultural Detector Dog Teams including procurement, training, care, kenneling, maintenance, supplies, Veterinarian, Handler (S&E).

Literal federal measure citations: S. 5526, S. 5526, H.R. 7567, H.R. 9976, H.R. 4708

BUD · Budget/Appropriations

Annual budget NIST Office of Weights and Measures FY 2022-2026. Issues relating to impacts of H.R. 6500 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027 (PL 119-103) on remaining FY 2026 funds in USDA Plant Protection Act Section 7721 program. Issues relating to USDA-APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) FY 2026 appropriations for Canine Detection and Surveillance for long-term federal support for Californias agricultural detector-dog program. Issues relating to USDA-APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) FY 2026 Plant Protection Act Section 7721, and opportunities to sustain and expand Californias agricultural pest detection capabilities. Issues relating to mandatory federal budget sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-25) and its impact on USDA-APHIS Plant Protection Act (PPA) Section 7721 Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program funding. Discussions included the FY 2026 exemption from sequestration, potential future funding reductions, and opportunities to extend sequestration relief to preserve federal resources for agricultural pest prevention, detection, and rapid response activities.

Literal federal measure citations: H.R. 6500

ENV · Environment/Superfund

Issues relating to nominations to EPA National Pesticide Dialogue Committee Issues relating to USDA Wildlife Services and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) nutria eradication efforts, including detection and removal rates, population trends, and the effectiveness of existing control strategies.

HOM · Homeland Security

Issues relating to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agricultural detector-dog program costs, staffing, training capacity, and potential funding opportunities under S. 2, the Secure America Act (Public Law 119-98). Focus on whether supplemental CBP appropriations could support expansion of agricultural detector-dog teams to strengthen inspection capabilities and prevent the introduction of invasive agricultural pests.

Literal federal measure citations: S. 2

GOV · Government Issues

Issues relating to proposed federal grant administration regulations under 2 CFR Parts 400, 417, and 421, including their potential impact on federal cooperative agreements, funding continuity, administrative requirements, and implementation of federal programs at the state and local levels. Supported coalition efforts urging withdrawal of the proposed rule and adoption of reforms that preserve funding certainty, objective grant administration, reasonable compliance requirements, and adequate transition periods.