By former USDA Secretary John R. Block It’s only been a week since confirmation, but Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has hit the ground running. He has ordered that schools be given more flexibility in their school lunch programs, more local control. They won’t be forced to reduce the sodium (salt) in the food served. He […]
John Block: Perdue’s Agenda Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Last week on Saturday, it was Earth Day. I always thought of Earth Day as a celebration of the earth with its natural beauty and, of course, the food and crops it provides to feed everything living – especially mankind. But this year, it became a “March for
John Block: Sound Science Read More »
There has been a great deal of discussion, and in some circles hand-wringing, about President Trump’s regulatory reform initiatives and how they will impact independent agencies like the CPSC. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within OMB is a key player in the debate since OIRA reviews and can influence changes in the
Regulatory Tools Depend on the Craftsmen Who Use Them Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I can report that I was on my Illinois farm last week. Weather was beautiful and we planted 360 acres of corn. Then it rained. At least we got started. It is always exciting when you first hit the field with hope and optimism of a good crop.
John Block: How Do We Raise Prices? Read More »
President Trump issued an Executive Order (Reorganization EO) on March 13 directing the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit a comprehensive plan to reorganize Executive Branch departments and agencies. OMB has now issued a Memorandum for heads of Executive Departments and Agencies calling for a Comprehensive Plan for Reforming the Federal Government an
What Would You Change About the Federal Government? Read More »
This week, I stopped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and met with Governor Perdue’s Chief of Staff and Policy Advisor, Brian Klippenstein. It was a short visit but we all agreed that we desperately need to get Sonny Perdue confirmed. All of the ag departments, from trade, forest service, nutrition programs, farm programs, and
John Block: Confirmation Process Read More »
As federal policy rapidly develops under the Trump Administration, much of it reversing or seeking to reverse the Obama legacy, the world of medical privacy (at least that which is on the books for now) remains static – after all, privacy always has been a bipartisan issue. Right? Not so fast . . . Trump
Trump’s New OCR Director and HIPAA Policy Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block President Trump took his oath of office with a priority list of actions he wanted to take in his first 100 days. It has not been easy. In the first place, I don’t think his team had prepared enough to move quickly on getting his nominees through the
John Block: Slow Process Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I was back on the farm in Illinois last week. I’m glad to report that the pigs are healthy and happy, and we are ready to start planting next month. Some farms are not as fortunate. Wild fires have burned more than 1,000 square miles, killing thousands of
John Block: Farm Economy Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Before focusing on today’s ag issue, I want to pay tribute to Clayton Yeutter. Clayton passed away Saturday, March 4 – age 86 – having served as U.S. Trade Ambassador and Secretary of Agriculture for Presidents Reagan and Bush. Clayton Yeutter – a good friend and champion for
John Block: Organic Foods Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block President Trump’s first major address to a joint session of Congress got a lot of attention. He told us what he is going to do. He reminded us what he has already done. He worked to sell his vision for the country to the Congress and the people.
John Block: Trump Speaks Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I have two issues to put forward today. They aren’t related, but we are going to have more discussion about each of them this year. President Trump tells us he will put forth a tax reform plan with tax cuts. Speaker Paul Ryan also is advocating tax legislation,
John Block: Two Issues Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The headlines in the papers and on the evening highlights: “White House in Crisis” and “Conflicts Between Trump Appointees.” Yes – for anyone following the new President and Republican Congress’s effort to take control and move forward, it is a wild and crazy show. However, let me say
John Block: Controversy is Good Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block President Trump is aggressively working to relieve the heavy burden of excessive regulations imposed on businesses in recent years. Remember what President Reagan said about regulations: “A government regulation is the nearest thing to eternal life that anyone will ever see on this earth.” I think that we
John Block: Regulations Read More »
Although it took a while, new leadership has finally come to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. After a flurry of last minute activity—and a rejection of the Administration’s direction concerning new regulations—earlier this week, Elliot Kaye was removed as agency chairman. He has announced that he plans to remain as a commissioner. Commissioner Ann Marie
Welcoming New Leadership at the CPSC Read More »
By Dr. Nina Fedoroff, as published in Agri-Pulse The Coordinated Framework (CF) for the Regulation of Biotechnology was first implemented 30 years ago. The CF was developed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). OSTP brought together representatives of the three federal agencies seeking to regulate commercial applications of biotechnology to
Biotech Regulations Must be Based on Facts, Not Fears Read More »
Views expressed in this post are intended as solely those of the author. Nothing is more boring than the Federal notice-and-comment rulemaking process under the Federal Administrative Procedures Act (APA). It is dry, obscure, and complex. Trust me, I teach seminars on it, and even the perkiest student on my most entertaining day needs heroic
Pity the Poor APA: How President Trump has Crippled Federal Rulemaking in Ten Short Days Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I want to focus on trade today. From agriculture’s perspective, it is extremely important. 25% of ag income comes from products sold to other countries. Production from 1 out of every 3 acres is exported. Agriculture has a positive trade balance of more than $30 billion. As positive
By Senator Bob Dole and Marshall Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse Perhaps no sector of the American economy is more dependent on trade than agriculture. It is the life blood of the heartland supporting over 15 million jobs throughout the United States. Our economy is so large, however, that the importance of agriculture is frequently overlooked.
Trade is Key for Agriculture Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block The news of the day is that Donald Trump is President. His critics are in shock. I say – “get over it.” He has tapped Governor Sonny Perdue for Secretary of Agriculture. Perdue grew up on a Georgia farm and has a veterinarian’s degree. Gary Baise, who pulled
John Block: Perdue as Ag Secretary Read More »
President Trump has made re-evaluating our approach to international trade a centerpiece of his economic agenda. In addition to putting what appears to be the final nail in the coffin of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Trump has signaled his intention to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA); if the U.S. does not receive
NAFTA Renegotiation: What’s At Stake? Read More »
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has assured the kosher and halal meat industries that the meat they produce with the well-known USDA Organic label can clearly qualify as organic, even though kosher and halal slaughter methods follow religious law instead of standard USDA regulations. The USDA’s statement came in its final version of regulations for organic
USDA Guarantees Kosher and Halal Meat Can Be Organic, Too Read More »
A memorandum from the President’s Chief of Staff, dated Friday, January 20, but released this afternoon via the Federal Register, directs all departmental and agency heads to forestall regulatory actions. Previous administrations, including the the incoming Obama Administration, have issued such directives. It instructs agencies to: Delay sending any new material to the Federal Register
Priebus’ January 20 Memorandum on Regulatory Freeze Pending Review Read More »
Today, OFW Law founding principal Richard L. Frank fills in for former USDA Secretary John R. Block on his weekly radio broadcast: As we prepare to launch the Trump Administration, I thought it useful and appropriate to take a quick look back at our 44th President Barack Hussein Obama. First and foremost, as a leader and human
John Block Reports: Barack Hussein Obama – A Retrospective Read More »
By Marshall Matz and Peter Matz, as published in Agri-Pulse The House of Representatives’ Freedom Caucus lists the USDA National Organic Program as one that should be a high priority for reform under President-elect Donald Trump. We agree. The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), enacted in the 1990 Farm Bill, established the National Organic Program (NOP) to set
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block We know some people are not happy to see Donald Trump move into the White House. However, many others are very excited. Just go to rural America. Farmers, ranchers, and most red states cannot wait for President Trump to get rid of the flood of regulations that President
John Block: Priorities for 2017 Read More »
For more than 20 years, Federal law has expressly provided that states may test welfare recipients for use of controlled substances free from interference of federal agencies. 21 U.S.C. §862(b). Relying upon this Congressional enactment, Wisconsin passed Act 55 during 2015. Act 55 authorized new drug screening and testing requirements for certain SNAP beneficiaries in
SNAP Wars: Scott Walker, Tom Vilsack and Drug Testing of SNAP Beneficiaries Read More »
In a major victory for supermarkets, convenience stores, and other Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) retailers, the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has finally agreed to start publishing its administrative Final Agency Decisions (FADs) in food stamp authorization and disqualification proceedings. On January 4, 2017, in response to a multi-year effort spearheaded by OFW
FNS Agrees To (Finally) Start Publishing SNAP Retailer Final Agency Decisions Read More »
Happy 2017, everyone! 2016 has come and gone. Looking at 2016 in my rear-view mirror, here are a few matters that caught my personal attention. As food and drug lawyers and corporate execs in regulated companies know (or definitely should know!), individuals in a position of responsibility can be prosecuted criminally for what are often
2016 – Gone But Not Forgotten Read More »
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced last week a new final rule that purportedly “clarifies an employer’s continuing obligation to make and maintain an accurate record of each recordable injury and illness.” OSHA’s final rule, however, is likely to be challenged, if not reversed, by the incoming Trump Administration. The final rule flies
Recent OSHA Final Rule on Recordkeeping Flouts D.C. Circuit Decision Read More »
This is a time for reflection. Looking back on the past year, it really was not a great one for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). And, sadly, many of the agency’s problems were of its own making. While many of the initiatives that are either ongoing or started in 2016 will continue into 2017,
CPSC: Closing the Books on 2016 Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block Last week, I – along with 2 other former Secretaries of Agriculture (Ann Veneman and Dan Glickman) – attended the portrait unveiling ceremony of Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Department of Agriculture. Vilsack served as Secretary of Agriculture for 8 years. It’s very rare for any Cabinet member
John Block: Vilsack – 8 Years Read More »
Ever since the election we have been asked which Obama Administration regulations and executive actions are likely to be stricken by the new Trump Administration or the 115th Congress. Will the focus be on the rules issued since mid May of this year, as provided for by the Congressional Review Act of 1996, or is
Food Rules Potential Targets for Elimination or Revision Read More »
There is a lot of talk today abut the next Farm Bill. What will be in it? When will it get done? But I think the agriculture industry should remind the new Secretary of Agriculture when Donald Trump takes office that the last Farm Bill had an important provision that was never implemented. The 2014
John Block: Trade Under Secretary Read More »
By former USDA Secretary John R. Block I want to review a few issues today as we plan our farming operation and look over the horizon at next year’s opportunities and challenges. U.S. farm income this year is expected to be down again, hitting an 8-year low of $71 billion. In 2013, we climbed to
John Block: Cuba And More Read More »
