DC Insight - 7/22/22

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What is the Farm Bill and Why Does It Matter? 
American Farm Bureau Federation – July 20, 2022 
The farm bill refers to an authorization of mandatory and discretionary spending bills appropriated to provide assistance related to food and farms. It is a multi-year law that is primarily executed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and it governs a wide variety of agricultural and food programs. The current farm bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2023. 

House approves more than $400 billion of government funding in ‘minibus’ package 
The Hill – July 20, 2022 
The lower chamber voted 220 to 207 in a largely party-line vote to pass the so-called “minibus” package, which contains six spending bills providing fiscal 2023 funding for various agencies, including the departments of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Transportation (DOT), Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs (VA) as well as the Food and Drug Administration. 

Senators seek to clear procedural hurdles on unfinished business
Roll Call – July 21, 2022 
Senate leaders are looking to clear legislation that would expand veterans’ health and disability benefits after passing a semiconductor manufacturing incentives and science package, but getting both bipartisan priorities done next week will require cooperation from all 100 senators. Democratic leaders are trying to secure a time agreement to speed through procedural votes and pass the semiconductor measure, also known as the “chips-plus” bill, by Tuesday. 

Senate Armed Services releases full $847 billion defense bill
Breaking Defense – July 18, 2022 
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) today released the text of its annual defense policy bill, boosting the department’s procurement and research funds by billions over its budget request. The bill text can be found here, the committee report language here, and the authorized funding tables here. 

Missouri delegation makes case for ARPA-H headquarters to be located in Missouri  
Senator Roy Blunt Press Release – July 21, 2022 
The entire Missouri congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the department to select Missouri for the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) headquarters. ARPA-H will utilize public-private partnerships to dramatically accelerate the development and approval of new treatments and technologies, and to respond to the most daunting health problems Americans face today. 

Federal Judge Blocks Title IX Guidance on Transgender Students 
Inside Higher Ed – July 19, 2022 
A Tennessee judge on Friday issued a temporary block on the Education Department’s Title IX guidance that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The temporary injunction from by Judge Charles Atchley focused on guidance issued by the Education Department in June 2021, which came after the Biden administration put out an executive order regarding how federal agencies should interpret what constitutes sex discrimination. 

Harvard Lobbies Congress to Cut Endowment Tax 
Inside Higher Ed – July 18, 2022 
Harvard is pushing Senate Democrats to consider reducing the controversial tax that draws an estimated $50 million annually from its $39 billion endowment. Many colleges and universities want the tax eliminated.