House Republicans moved closer to completing action this week on a reconciliation plan to implement President Trump’s “one, big, beautiful” agenda bill. The final three committees completed action on their portion of the package to renew the 2017 tax cut legislation with some additional tax cuts and to cut roughly $1.5 trillion in spending over the next decade to pay for the tax provisions and reduce overall federal spending. Congress has few legislative days scheduled until the Memorial Day recess, which is Speaker Mike Johnson’s deadline to push the reconciliation package through the House to get the package on Trump’s desk by July 4. The House Budget Committee consolidate the work of the various committees into one package and bring it up for a vote next week. As of right now, Speaker Johnson does not have the votes to pass this big chunk of Trump domestic agenda. It is anticipated changes to this legislation will have to be made in the Rules Committee or on the floor to ensure its passage.


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The Inflation Reduction Act includes approximately $1 billion for conservation technical assistance, which allows NRCS and conservation districts across the country to get boots on the ground to support producers implement conservation. This legislation also provides $18 billion for voluntary conservation programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) between Fiscal Years 2023 and 2027.


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As someone who has been around the federal policy debate on infrastructure for more than 30 years, I have to chuckle at the reemergence of the call for a massive infrastructure bill to bring this country out of our current economic woes.  No question there is bipartisan support for all the roads and bridge needs that exist and the good jobs that would be created.  And no question industry would support legislation that targets federal investment directed by state and local government leaders. However, putting the pieces together for a massive bill is a monumental task. 

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