The Farm Bill is one of the most complicated and comprehensive measures Congress considers. The current version expires on September 30, 2026, and both chambers are working on a reauthorization. BGR Vice President Kellie Adesina, a former Chief Counsel to the House Agriculture Committee and Senior Counselor at USDA, breaks down the status of the critical legislation.
Author: Rae Parsons
BGR Breaks Down the Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security EO
“The signing of the revised AI executive order is a minor win for the tech industry and its advocates insofar as the revised order reduces the government’s voluntary preview window from 90 days to 30 days. The order still has the federal government set the standards for what is a ‘covered frontier model,’ and the framework still contemplates that such models will work with the government voluntarily to determine what partners will have early access. The same general fears that a voluntary system will later become mandatory remain.”
– Sean Cooksey, BGR Managing Director
The BGR Brief – Seeking Clarity on the Clarity Act with Matt Hoffmann
Following a historic bipartisan breakthrough in the Senate Banking Committee, the Clarity Act is moving forward to give the digital asset industry a predictable rulebook. BGR Financial Services Practice Head Matt Hoffmann breaks down how the bill aims to end the regulatory turf war between the SEC and CFTC, clear the path for bank-led crypto activities, and set rules for decentralized finance (DeFi). A complex committee merger and a packed legislative calendar lie ahead, but the momentum for comprehensive crypto policy is real.
BGR Review – May 15th
Included in this week’s BGR Review: A Congressional Update, BGR’s State of Play, an introduction to BGR’s newest team member, Kellie Adesina, coverage of the Trump-Xi Summit, two new episodes of 35 Questions with David J. Urban and Remy L. Brim , Ph.D., this week’s newsletters, and more!
The BGR Brief – Trump-Xi Summit with Joseph Lai
In this week’s BGR Brief, BGR Principal Joseph Lai examines the dynamics of the upcoming Trump-Xi Summit and how the Trump administration continues to use trade policy to influence both economic and foreign policy.
Kellie Adesina Joins BGR Group as Vice President Focused on Food and Agriculture Policy
Washington, D.C. (May 11, 2026) – BGR Group, Washington, D.C.’s premier bipartisan lobbying and public relations firm, has announced that Kellie Adesina, a former Chief Counsel on the House Agriculture Committee and Senior Counselor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is joining its Commerce and Infrastructure practice as a Vice President. With extensive experience in both the public and private sector, Kellie will bolster the firm’s food and agriculture policy offering.
“Kellie is a highly regarded policy and legislative strategist in the agriculture space,” BGR President Erskine Wells said. “Her service in the private sector, on Capitol Hill, and in the administration gives her tremendous perspective and background on critical agriculture and nutrition issues. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
Collin C. Peterson, former Chair of the House Agriculture Committee, said, “During the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations, Kellie proved to be an indispensable asset. She possesses a rare combination of policy expertise and the ability to bridge different viewpoints to move legislation forward. Her work ethic, collaborative spirit, and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable team member.”
Kellie previously served as a Director of Federal Government Affairs at Kraft Heinz, where she helped manage advocacy efforts in food and agricultural spaces. She served in a similar role at Bayer where she focused on crop science issues like gene editing, biotech, and pesticides.
On Capitol Hill, Kellie served as Chief Counsel on the House Agriculture Committee for Chairman Collin C. Peterson (D-MN). In this role, she was integral to drafting key portions of the 2018 Farm Bill which passed with bipartisan support.
Prior to her service with the Agriculture Committee, Kellie was Senior Counselor in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Kellie also served as Legislative Director to Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) and Legislative Counsel to Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA). She began her career on Capitol Hill working for Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), her home state Senator.
Kellie is a founder of Black Professionals in Food and Agriculture (BPFA), chair of the Board of Directors for the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), and a member of the Board of Directors for CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Board of Directors for the Farm Foundation, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
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35 Questions, Ep. 5: BGR Practice Head Remy Brim
It’s 35 Questions with BGR Health and Life Sciences Practice Head Remy Brim! From her first job to her approach to bipartisanship and serving clients, Remy explains how hard work, humility, and accountability have shaped her career. If you like the Detroit Red Wings, Alanis Morrisette, and lemon trees (or even if you don’t!), you’re going to love this chat!
BGR Analytics Launches Best States for AI Investment Index, the Definitive Data-Driven Ranking of All 50 States + D.C. for AI Investment
Index Debuts at SelectUSA Investment Summit; Texas, Utah and Florida Lead Overall Rankings
WASHINGTON D.C. — BGR Analytics, the data practice of BGR Group, Washington’s premier bipartisan government affairs and public relations firm, today launched the BGR Best States for AI Investment Index — a comprehensive, data-driven ranking of all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on their readiness and attractiveness for artificial intelligence investment. The Index is the first product of its kind to apply rigorous, multi-dimensional analysis to the AI investment landscape, giving technology companies, data center developers, sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms and foreign governments the intelligence they need to make confident, data-backed AI investment decisions.
The Index is being introduced tonight at a cocktail reception co-hosted by BGR Group, Advocus Partners and gener8tor in connection with the SelectUSA Investment Summit. The reception is themed “Investing Locally to Compete Globally: Building Innovation Ecosystems & AI Ready States.” It will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at the Belvedere Lobby Bar, Gaylord Hotel, National Harbor, Maryland.
Texas ranks first overall, followed by Utah and Florida in BGR Analytics’ inaugural Best States for AI Investment Index. California and North Carolina are tied for 4th, followed by Virginia, Georgia, Colorado, Washington, Massachusetts and Maryland.
“The AI economy is reordering American competitiveness state by state, and the decisions companies and investors make today about where to deploy capital will shape the landscape for decades,” said Frank Ahrens, Head of BGR Analytics. “Until now, those decisions have too often been made on the basis of conventional wisdom, gut instinct, or incomplete data. The BGR Best States for AI Investment Index changes that, delivering more than 100 verified data points across five pillars to cut through the noise and give investors the confidence to act.”
Five Pillars. 14 Indicator Groups. 100+ Data Categories.
The Index evaluates all 51 jurisdictions across five core pillars: 1) Dynamic Economy, 2) Business Climate, 3) Data-Center Readiness — encompassing Research & Startup Ecosystem, Data Infrastructure, Regulatory Friendliness, Energy Abundance & Affordability, and Synergistic Advantage — 4) Workforce Advantage and 5) Quality of Place. Each indicator is normalized and scored before applying group and pillar weights to produce an aggregate total score and ranking. Rankings reflect objective data only; no state surveying was conducted.
The Index also produces specialized sub-rankings, including Top States for Physical AI Investment — led by Texas, Florida and Georgia — and Top States for Knowledge AI Investment — led by California, Texas and North Carolina — enabling investors to pinpoint the best states for their specific deployment needs.
Built for Investors and State Governments Alike
For investors, the Index serves as a decision-support tool to identify optimal locations for AI-related capital deployment, validate or challenge site-selection assumptions, and build a data-backed narrative for stakeholders on where — and why — AI investment should flow.
For state governments, the Index shows exactly how each state performs across the 14 categories that matter most to AI investors — from data center infrastructure to talent pipelines — enabling state economic development officials to sharpen their investment pitch, target their strengths, and close competitive gaps.
About BGR Analytics
BGR Analytics® is the data practice of BGR Group, established in 2023. Powered by BGR’s Data Science team and led by Principal Frank Ahrens, BGR Analytics uses proprietary methodologies and data from multiple authoritative sources to produce rankings, risk assessments, and actionable intelligence that give clients a competitive edge. BGR Analytics products include the BGR Impact Index; the BGR Energy Security Index and the BGR Best States for Asian Investment Index. More information is available at bgrdc.com/bgr-analytics.
About BGR Group
Founded in 1991 and celebrating its 35th anniversary, BGR Group is the leading bipartisan government affairs, public relations and analytics firm in Washington D.C., with offices in Austin, Atlanta, Nashville and Phoenix and extensive business relationships around the world. BGR’s clients include Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, trade associations, non-profit organizations, academic institutions and coalitions. More information is available at bgrdc.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Frank Ahrens
Head of BGR Analytics
BGR Group
FAhrens@bgrpr.com
(202) 352-4227
BGR Review – May 1st
Included in this week’s BGR Review: A Congressional Update, BGR’s Midterms State of Play, an introduction to BGR’s newest team member, Meme Everette, three new episodes of 35 Questions, with Ed Rodgers, Bob Wood, and Maya Seiden, this week’s newsletters, and more!
The BGR Brief – Can the the Crown, Chaos, and Correspondents Create Bipartisanship? with David Urban
Following a jarring weekend at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and ahead of a historic Royal State Visit, BGR Managing Director David Urban shares his perspective on a high-stakes week in Washington. He breaks down the enduring “Special Relationship” in the Trump-Starmer era, what to expect from King Charles’ address to a Joint Meeting of Congress, and why this visit and the shared experience of the events at the WHCD might be the rare catalyst needed to bridge the partisan divide.