AGR — Agriculture
Consumer Price Index annual average of inflation for each year 2003-2025. Applied the average annual rate of inflation to the APHIS Specialty Crop line item over past ten years, since 2017. Issues relating to support of H.R. 776, Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act of 2025. Support for multi-agency approach to nutria eradication and control in California. Concerns regarding nutria expansion into Bay area in California. Issues relating to implementation of agriculture disaster assistance in California. Issues relating to the Wildlife Services program in California including number of participating counties, nutria eradication. Support Section 12003 of H.R. 7567, Farm, Food and National Security Act, that encourages USDA-APHIS to consider and prioritize the growing use of agricultural canine inspection teams nationally and within territories of the U.S. Issues relating to expansion of the number of canine detection training facilities across the country, including California with high detection needs and more efficient canine training capacity at locations closer to the proximity where the dog teams and their handlers will ultimately be deployed. Issues relating to FY 2026-27 European Grapevine Moth, Spotted Lantern Fly and already established quarantines for Caribbean fruit fly in Los Angeles, Mediterranean fruit fly in Santa Clara and Oriental fruit fly detected in Riverside and San Bernardino counties in California. Support Sections 10201-10211 of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 that modernize the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) in practical, science-based ways and directly strengthen the regulatory framework relied upon by growers, applicators, and enforcement agencies nationwide. H.R. 7567 preserves the full authority of states under FIFRA 24(a) and 24(c) to regulate the sale and use of pesticides and to impose additional state-level restrictions that do not alter the federal label. Preemption is maintained ensuring uniform national labeling and use standards so growers, regulators, and consumers are not subjected to a patchwork of conflicting local pesticide rules. Support continuing authorization for Emergency Citrus Research & Extension Program and Specialty Crop Research initiative (SCRI) in H.R. 7567, Farm, Food and National Security Act. Support modernization of APHIS-CBP inspection capabilities, including detector dog teams, electronic manifesting, high-risk cargo targeting, and propagation-material safeguarding. Support USDA-APHIS continuing its transparency in publishing AQI collections and transfers between APHIS and CBP to ensure future assessments and fee adjustments timely occur to match operational needs. Support statutory authorities in 21 U.S.C. 136a that allow AQI user-fee collections to support e-commerce inspection activities-such as county-level surveillance, inspections, or detector-dog operations-when those activities can be demonstrated to be part of the cost of providing agricultural quarantine and inspection services.
Lobbyists:- TIMOTHY CANSLER — covered position: Assistant to Undersecretary, USDA Assistant to Administrator, USDA
Government entities lobbied: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
BUD — Budget/Appropriations
Support U.S. Forest Services State, Private, and Tribal Forestry (SPTF) programs to prioritize collaborative, cross-boundary partnerships with local stakeholders, including Californias Weed Management Areas and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Weed Management Area Grant Program, ensuring that federal SPTF funds are used in ways that actively leverage existing state investments in the FY 2027 Interior and Environment appropriations bill. Inquiry about budget of National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), Office of Weight and Measures. Support adequate funding for NIST Office of Weight and Measures in FY 2027 Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill to modernize standards, accelerate emerging technology research and expand technical assistance to States. Support investing in NIST national metrology modernization, including upgraded State labs, advanced testing equipment, and field capacity for EV charging, hydrogen fueling, e-commerce, and software-driven devices in FY 2027 appropriations for Commerce, Justice, and Science bill. Issues relating to Plant Protection Act Section 7721 implementation of Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program like a grant program as opposed to following the statutory special funding considerations. Issues relating to Plant Protection Act Section 7721 implementation of Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and program funds being directed to university-based research projects instead of, as statute directs, toward pest detection and exclusion activities. Issues relating to Plant Protection Act Section 7721 implementation of Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program and program funds being directed to sustain existing detector dog teams and allow expansion to meet current risk levels. Issues relating to feasibility of establishing a second canine detection training facility on the West Coast, specifically in Californias Northern San Joaquin Valley, to meet the high detection demands of agricultural and Port communities. Issues relating to federal and state overhead costs of APHIS programs under plant health, specialty crop pests. Support pest detection funding in FY 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill that provides early warning capabilities and allows USDA-APHIS, state departments of agriculture, and local jurisdictions to respond rapidly to new pest introductions and prevent costly long-term infestations. Support Congress appropriating at least $166 million to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) in FY 2027 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), OPPs ability to collect the full amount of authorized Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) fees is contingent upon annual appropriations reaching the statutory minimum trigger level of $166 million. Falling below this threshold limits OPPs capacity to staff and operate effectively, leading to delays in pesticide registration reviews, reduced processing capacity, and potential backlogs that impact farmers, industry, and public health. Support strengthening and stable annual baseline funding for USDA-APHIS Specialty Crop Pest programs in FY 2027 appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill. Specifically including Asian Citrus Psyllid, Fruit Fly Exclusion and Detection, Citrus Health programs including the Multi Agency Coordination response to Citrus Greening (HLB), Glassy-winged Sharpshooter - the vector of Pierces disease in grapes, Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death), Pale cyst nematode, Critical Invasive Pest Response, Plum pox virus, Golden nematode, Navel Orangeworm, Agricultural Detector Dog Teams, and Wood pests - including timber, forest, and nursery/ornamental landscaping tree pests. Support continuing post-eradication surveys for European Grapevine Moth. Support ongoing surveillance for Spotted Lanternfly. Ensure continued investment in biological infrastructure and readiness. Support FY 2027 funding in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill for modern laboratories, sterile insect production and release facilities, diagnostics and surveillance systems that form the backbone of national pest response capability. Infrastructure readiness directly reduces response time, eradication costs, and trade disruption during outbreaks. In FY 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill, support continuing development of a comprehensive plan, considering all options to upgrade the sterile insect release facility at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, California. Support improved cost-share equity between USDA and California counties to implement Wildlife Services. Support appropriate targeted wolf funding at levels that (1) support state agency responses, (2) reduces depredations, (3) support non-lethal coexistence when feasible, (4) improve real-time communication and verification, and (5) aligns compensation and prevention funding so support reaches producers quickly and predictably. Support full funding of authorized level of H.R. 776, Nutria Eradication and Control Reauthorization Act of 2025. Support stable Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) appropriations in the FY 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies bill and ensure fee collections remain available for CBP and APHIS inspection staffing and modernization tools. The unprecedented volumes of exotic pests detected within the interior of California in 2023-2025 clearly demonstrate the need to enhance CBPs staffing and maximize its pest exclusion activities. Support sustained annual appropriations to support the CBP Agricultural Specialist hiring levels authorized in P.L. 116‑122.
Lobbyists:- TIMOTHY CANSLER — covered position: Assistant to Undersecretary, USDA Assistant to Administrator, USDA
Government entities lobbied: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Natl Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST); Office of Management & Budget (OMB); SENATE; U.S. Customs & Border Protection; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS)
ENV — Environment/Superfund
Provided clarification that County Agricultural Commissioners implement and enforce Californias pesticide regulatory program as delegated by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR). Counties are not operating independent local pesticide regulatory systems with separate labeling requirements or local pesticide codes. Pesticides used in California must first be registered by EPA under Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and are then registered by CDPR. Counties do not register pesticides, and do not have the authority to require county-specific requirements on labels. Issues relating to nominations to the EPA National Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC). Issues relating to EPA reorganization and adequate staff at Office of Pesticide Programs to maintain timely pesticide registrations and preserve the stability and predictability of the national pesticide regulatory system. Issues relating to FIFRA section 33(c)(3)(C)(iii) that directs EPA to procure an independent contractor to conduct a third-party assessment of specific pesticide registration processes. OPP has procured a contractor and expects a report of findings and recommendations in March 2026. Support passage of Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) 6 prior to September 30, 2027 that strengthens the federal-state partnership by keeping the system anchored in science, clarity, and shared responsibility. Support Sections 10201-10211 of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 that modernize the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) in practical, science-based ways and directly strengthen the regulatory framework relied upon by growers, applicators, and enforcement agencies nationwide. H.R. 7567 preserves the full authority of states under FIFRA 24(a) and 24(c) to regulate the sale and use of pesticides and to impose additional state-level restrictions that do not alter the federal label. Preemption is maintained ensuring uniform national labeling and use standards so growers, regulators, and consumers are not subjected to a patchwork of conflicting local pesticide rules. Support efforts of registering effective and safe Varroa mite pesticides. Support research into more bee friendly pesticides to keep honeybee colonies safe. Support maintaining the USDA honey grade program and ensuring imported honey is of good quality and safe for U.S. consumers. Issues supporting reforms to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to counter invasive species that heighten wildfire risk and degrade ecosystems, strengthen forest health management, encourage efficient use of categorical exclusions and ensure science-based permitting reforms.
Lobbyists:- TIMOTHY CANSLER — covered position: Assistant to Undersecretary, USDA Assistant to Administrator, USDA
Government entities lobbied: Agriculture, Dept of (USDA); Congressional Budget Office (CBO); Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE
HOM — Homeland Security
Support modernization of APHIS-CBP inspection capabilities, including detector dog teams, electronic manifesting, high-risk cargo targeting, and propagation-material safeguarding. Support USDA-APHIS continuing its transparency in publishing AQI collections and transfers between APHIS and CBP to ensure future assessments and fee adjustments timely occur to match operational needs. Support statutory authorities in 21 U.S.C. 136a that allow AQI user-fee collections to support e-commerce inspection activities-such as county-level surveillance, inspections, or detector-dog operations-when those activities can be demonstrated to be part of the cost of providing agricultural quarantine and inspection services.
Lobbyists:- TIMOTHY CANSLER — covered position: Assistant to Undersecretary, USDA Assistant to Administrator, USDA
Government entities lobbied: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; SENATE; U.S. Customs & Border Protection