Environment

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The Democratic-controlled House looks to clear the $1.9 trillion stimulus package for President Joe Biden’s signature this week, while the Senate turns to moving more of his Cabinet nominees, including his pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Regan.

The Agriculture Department hasn’t made up its mind on whether to move forward with a proposal to take over regulation of biotech animal products, asking Friday for more comments on the subject.

Senate Republicans used a confirmation hearing for two high-level nominees to express strong concerns about the Biden administration’s environmental agenda, which prioritizes climate change and environmental justice.

On Tuesday, Vilsack took part in a wide-ranging interview with Agri-Pulse from his home in Iowa, touching on subjects ranging from helping farmers through the COVID-19 pandemic to addressing the “cumulative effect of discrimination over a long period of time.”

Leaders of the American Soybean Association tasked the organization with action on climate, conservation and trade policy as part of the group’s recent policy process.

A federal judge has cleared the path forward for a lawsuit challenging the Food and Drug Administration’s 2018 approval of Experior, a drug developed by Elanco that FDA said reduces the amount of ammonia gas released from beef cattle manure.

Democrats look to move President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package through the Senate while Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack makes his case for the new administration’s priorities to farm groups this week for the first time in his return to his old job.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says addressing the COVID-19 pandemic remains top of mind as he returns to USDA, but he also will be addressing climate policy, workforce issues and other matters in the early days of his tenure.

The draft biological opinions evaluate the impact of these pesticides on 26 federally listed endangered and threatened species of Pacific salmon and steelhead in Washington, Oregon, and California.

Even as congressional Democrats push through a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package, attention is turning to legislation that could be use to fund agricultural climate initiatives: an infrastructure package that could be in the range of $3 trillion.