President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., are projecting confidence that the Senate will meet the July 4 deadline for passing the Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill.
During a business investment roundtable, Johnson said he’d spoken with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and both are optimistic about passing the Big Beautiful Bill by July.
But Johnson said he’s urging GOP senators to make only limited modifications. “We’ve got a very delicate balance that we’ve reached. It took a long time to get there and we don’t want to upset that balance too much,” Johnson said.
What’s next: The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to release its portion of the bill this week, with a net reduction of $150 billion, rather than the $230 billion included in the House version.
But, but, but: In a letter published by Punchbowl News, members of the House Freedom Caucus are pushing Senate Republicans to go further on spending cuts than the House did and include more reforms to Medicaid. The HFC also encourages senators to “hold the line” on ending some clean energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Nevada Dem vows to delay broadband appointees
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., is threatening to put a hold on all nominations for broadband positions at the Commerce Department after the Trump administration reworked Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program rules.
Nevada was one of four states that had already selected service providers after having initial proposals that were approved at the end of the Biden administration. Under reworked BEAD program rules, internet providers in the state will need to go through the bidding process again.
“This decision will put Nevada’s broadband funding in jeopardy, and it’s a slap in the face to rural communities that need access to high-speed internet,” Rosen said in a statement, adding that she will “put a hold on all nominations for Commerce Department positions that oversee or deal with broadband policy in any way” until her state “gets its BEAD funding."
Groups push HHS, USDA to rely on science with saturated fats
Public health and environmental groups are preparing to send a letter to the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments urging transparency and science-based recommendations in the upcoming dietary guidelines.
The two departments, led by Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., are responsible for finalizing the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are influential in federal nutrition programs. The secretaries have said the guidelines are likely to be completed by early fall and will be simplified.
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But some consumer advocates and environmental groups say they want to ensure any findings in the report, and specifically any recommendations on saturated fats, are based on science. They argue studies clearly show that saturated fat is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and the guidelines should maintain recommended limits of less than 10% of total calories.
Additionally, the groups write that specific limits on saturated fat, added sugar and sodium are critical for informing nutrition policies.
The letter, organized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, is also signed by groups including the Center for Biological Diversity and Earthjustice.
“Adopting the science-based recommendations of the DGAC would align your administration with those who have stood firm against industry influence, as you have promised,” the groups write.
Eggs recalled amid ongoing salmonella outbreak
About 1.7 million dozen egg varieties have been recalled in connection with a salmonella outbreak that has sickened over 70 people in seven states.
The August Egg Co. recalled organic and brown cage-free egg varieties that were distributed to stores between February and May because of the potential for salmonella. The recall applies to Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and Wyoming.
The eggs were distributed to popular grocery chains like Walmart and Safeway.
As of June 6, there were 79 cases linked to the salmonella outbreak with 21 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
From the field: First two states complete corn planting
Corn, soybean, peanut and cotton planting is complete or nearing completion across the U.S.
According to this week's USDA crop progress report, Minnesota and North Carolina are the first two states to reach 100% corn planting completion. In line with the five-year averages for an 18-state area, 97% of corn and 90% of soybeans have been planted.
About 76% of the nation's cotton and 90% of peanuts are in the ground. Sorghum producers are still working to plant nearly half of the nation's crop. Just 54% was planted on June 8.
In Iowa, 97% of corn has emerged, with most of it earning a good to excellent rating.
Corn growing in central Iowa at sunset (Agri-Pulse photo: Lydia Johnson). Unions and their allies tell SCOTUS reorg plans illegal
Unions, local governments and groups including a regional organic farming association are telling the Supreme Court that the Trump administration cannot reorganize government and fire employees without consulting first with Congress.
They cite 1977 congressional testimony delivered by Justice Antonin Scalia, who said there are but two ways to pursue reorganization: Either Congress gives the president the authority to do so, “subject to their undoing his work through the normal process of legislation, or else they must themselves adopt such reorganization through the constitutionally prescribed legislative process,” according to a brief filed with the high court.
At issue is an injunction issued by a federal judge in San Francisco halting the reorganization plans at virtually all federal agencies, including USDA. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the order, 2-1, and the administration has sought relief in the Supreme Court.
Final word
“In reality, U.S. and U.K. food production practices have more in common than what separate us. We hope continued conversations like these will help move the two countries closer, strengthen agricultural ties, and enable America’s farmers to help meet the nutritional needs of families in the United Kingdom.” – American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall, in a statement issued after meeting with U.K. officials in London.
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