Congress is back in session for the week following its Memorial Day recess. It appears that the Senate continues to say it is working on finding a solution to the genetically modified organism labeling debate ahead of the July 1 implementation date for Vermont’s labeling law, but in reality, the chances of passing something in the Senate and the House in the remaining work days in June seem improbable.
The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing on the impact of overregulation on small banks and rural communities. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 9. Click here for more information.
The House Committee on Oversight & Government Relations has scheduled a hearing on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, examining efforts to combat fraud and improve program integrity. The hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday. Click here for more information.
Over at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, acting deputy secretary Michael Scuse will travel to Hartford, Conn., on June 6 to highlight USDA investments in new and beginning farmers at a roundtable with Sen. Chris Murphy and other Connecticut congressional members (open press).
On Tuesday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will travel to Petersburg, Va., for a summer meals event with First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe and Education Secretary John King.
On Wednesday, Vilsack will deliver remarks on child nutrition during the Food Research & Action Center Annual Benefit Dinner in Washington, D.C.
Also during the week, from June 8 to 11, Scuse will travel to Lithuania to promote the importance of the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership and discuss bilateral trade. On Friday, he will participate in a local media press conference with Lithuania’s Minister of Agriculture Virginija Baltraitiene in Vilnius, Lithuania, to discuss prospects for future collaboration between the U.S. and Lithuania.
