Articles Tagged with ''Interior Department''

The Biden administration is assuring lawmakers that it's working to provide short-term emergency relief to the drought-stricken West even as farm groups continue to push for some relaxation of environmental rules that limit access to irrigation water.

Gov. Gavin Newsom makes appointments to California's Regional Water Quality Boards and Church Brothers Farms makes additions to its sales team.

The Senate is set to OK President Joe Biden’s nominees for Interior secretary and U.S. Trade Representative this week, while the House looks to jump-start a congressional debate over immigration reform and farm labor.

Tom Vilsack finally gets his Senate vote to join the Biden administration for a second stint as agriculture secretary, and two other nominees important to farmers and ranchers get hearings this week.

An executive order signed by President Joe Biden Wednesday seeks to involve the agriculture community in addressing climate change and vastly increase the amount of land conserved in the U.S.

President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday introduced members of his “climate team,” six key Cabinet and White House positions that he’s charged with coordinating his administration’s plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions and address environmental justice issues.

Robert Bonnie, who oversaw USDA natural resource programs during the Obama administration, is leading the department’s transition effort for President-elect Joe Biden, while several EPA alumni are assisting with setting up the new administration’s operations at that agency.

The Democratic-controlled House approved a package of fiscal 2021 spending bills Friday that would provide about $1 billion for rural broadband expansion while blocking the Trump administration from cutting food stamp rolls and carrying out key regulatory relief measures.

Senators are privately discussing agricultural provisions in the next major coronavirus relief bill, which Republican leaders hope to get passed by the August recess.