The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously advanced a $287-billion highway bill out of committee Tuesday, a piece of legislation committee chair John Barrasso hailed as the “most substantial highway infrastructure legislation in history.”

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee plans to mark up a highway bill before leaving town for the August recess.

President Donald Trump makes his case to the nation this week for his trade and immigration policies, while Senate Republicans look to advance Anthony Wheeler’s nomination to be administrator of the EPA.

EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler plans to issue a rule allowing year-round use of E15 by the summer driving season, provided the government shutdown ends in a “reasonable” length of time.

The Environmental Protection Agency has decided to withdraw proposals under review at the Office of Management and Budget to lower the minimum age of farmworkers and certified applicators who handle pesticides.

States need to play a larger role in protecting and recovering endangered species, the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee said at a hearing Wednesday that looked at federal, state and local efforts to collaborate on wildlife conservation.

Rural areas struggling with low commodity prices and a stalled farm bill are getting over $4 billion in new USDA grants and low-interest loans for new or upgraded water and sewer systems, electric power lines, and other essential infrastructure.

The biannual attempt by Republican lawmakers to rewrite the Endangered Species Act is in full swing, exemplified by a Senate hearing Tuesday on draft legislation that would give states a greater say in how the law is implemented.

The $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill released Wednesday would exempt thousands of livestock and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from having to report emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.