Crunch Time in Congress:

GOP Pushes “One Big Beautiful Bill” Ahead of Independence Day

Republicans are racing to pass a sweeping megabill before July 4 that includes a controversial overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a $67 billion farm bill package, and $1 billion for new Bureau of Reclamation storage and conveyance facilities. President Trump is rallying GOP senators to deliver on his self-imposed deadline ahead of Independence Day.

“It’s time to get this legislation across the finish line,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SOUTH DAKOTA) – pictured above – spoke on the Senate floor about how the GOP’s megabill delivers on the mandate from the voters.

“[Republicans] have the opportunity to pass a bill that advances all of these priorities and sets our country up for better days ahead,” he said.

The Senate began voting on the morning of June 30, but a key provision temporarily exempting Alaska and Hawaii from SNAP cost-sharing rules was still awaiting a ruling from the chamber’s parliamentarian as this edition of the “Monthly Briefing” was going to press.

At stake is not only the future of a major legislative package but also political momentum heading into the summer recess. President Trump has declared that “no one goes on vacation until it’s done,” urging lawmakers to stay in town until the bill reaches his desk. With just days remaining, it is still unclear whether a unified bill can be finalized and passed by July Fourth.

CLICK HERE to download the PDF Version of the July 2025 edition of the “Monthly Briefing”, where you can read more about this, and these other important issues to Western water users, from a perspective that you won’t find anywhere else:

• President Trump Pulls Out of Columbia River Settlement
• Aging Infrastructure Account Application Window Now Open
• Hill Clashes Over Trump Budget Cuts as FY 2026 Spending Bills Take Shape
• White House Reviewing NEPA Plans Across Agencies
• EPA, Army Move Toward Proposal to Revise 2023 Definition of WOTUS
• Alliance Supports WILTR Act
• Trump Administration Takes Aggressive Forest Management Action
• SCOTUS Ruling Reshapes Environmental Review Standards Under NEPA
• California Farm Water Coalition Announces Planned Departure of Executive Director
• House T&I Committee Approves Legislation to Improve CWA Permitting Efficiency
• SAVE THE DATE! 2025 Annual Conference: October 30-31, 2025 in Reno, NV         
• President Trump Taps Cooke and Scarlett for Key Posts Important to the West
• Congress Advances Water Bills for the West
• Nation’s Largest New Dam in 25 Years Set to Boost Water Resilience on Front Range
• Federal Investments Drive Water Resiliency in the Colorado River Basin and Beyond
• A Big “Thank You” to our New and Supporting Members!

Please do not hesitate to contact dan@familyfarmalliance.org if you have any difficulties downloading the July 2025 “Monthly Briefing”.