A TALE OF TWO PACKAGES: The Senate spent a long working weekend finalizing the text of a bipartisan infrastructure package that would spend $550 billion on broadband expansion, climate action, water infrastructure and roads, bridges and highways, among other provisions. But House leaders are still vowing not to vote on the bill until a reconciliation measure also passes the Senate.
First on BIF: On Sunday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he predicted the chamber would pass the infrastructure framework "in a matter of days" and reiterated his vow that the chamber would pass both the bipartisan bill and a budget blueprint for Democrats' $3.5 trillion social spending package before the August recess, reports POLITICO's Marianne LeVine. But first, the bill will go through an arduous amendment process. But many lawmakers, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), predicted the bill will have enough Republican support to pass. A procedural vote on the bill last week was supported by 18 Senate Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. What's in it for ag: MA readers may remember that the BIF includes billions in spending on the agriculture sector such as $65 billion for rural broadband, of which $2 billion is directed to the Agriculture Department. The measure would also spend billions on carbon removal, firefighting and forest management resources, tree planting and more. But significant investment in biofuels appears to have been left out of the bill. Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa) has long raised concerns about the lack of biofuel language in the negotiations — something she says could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide benefits to farmers who produce corn and soy for biofuels. Then there's reconciliation: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sticking to her decision to not hold a vote on the infrastructure package until the estimated $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill passes the Senate. But even some Senate Democrats, like Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have said they want to lower the cost of the reconciliation measure and address other issues. What's in it for ag: There is no draft text of the reconciliation package yet but it is expected to tackle social programs including access to nutrition assistance, school lunches and immigration. SENATE CONFIRMS HIPP AFTER LONG WAIT: The Senate confirmed by voice vote Janie Hipp to serve as general counsel for the Agriculture Department — two months after the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced her nomination. Broad bipartisan backing: Both Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) voiced strong approval of the nominee over the weekend. Both applauded the bipartisan support for Hipp despite earlier concerns that a Republican member was blocking the full Senate vote. Left to confirm: The full Senate still has to vote on the nomination of Jennifer Moffitt to be undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. The Senate Ag Committee has yet to schedule a vote to advance the nominations of Robert Bonnie to be Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's top climate adviser and Xochitl Torres Small for undersecretary of rural development. Both Bonnie and Torres Small faced the panel last week. ICYMI: Our Ryan McCrimmon has more on that hearing. | 
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