New Senate Nominations

As part of a package, the Senate voted to confirm dozens of administration nominees, including Douglas Troutman as the Assistant Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Administrator for Toxic Substances. This position directly oversees the regulation of pesticides and other chemicals under the American Substances Control Act. 

In that same vote, the Senate confirmed Yvette Herrell as USDA Assistant Administrator for Congressional Affairs. As a former congresswoman representing the 2nd District of New Mexico from 2021 to 2023, she has a deep understanding of congressional relations and agriculture policy. The Office of Congressional Affairs (OCR), which Herrell will lead, is vital to the dialogue between Congress and the Department of Agriculture, providing lawmakers with key information and providing technical assistance on potential legislation. 

ASTA looks forward to working with both nominees to convey the importance of a stable and consistent regulatory environment where the agencies that regulate seeds – the EPA, USDA, and FDA – work closely to review seeds in coordination with the other relevant agencies.