Government Affairs Insights on Floral

May 23, 2025

House Passes ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ Reconciliation Package

On May 22, the House of Representatives managed to pass its budget reconciliation bill by a vote of 215-214-1, after surviving a contentious 21-hour House Rules Committee markup to advance it to the floor. The bill passed with majority support from House Republicans, excluding Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH) who voted no along with all present Democrats, Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) who voted present, and Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) who abstained from voting altogether. The bill H.R.1 – the One Big Beautfiul Bill Act largely reflects President Trump’s fiscal policy agenda and includes tax reforms, spending adjustments, and policy changes across various sectors. Specifically, the bill extends the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, introduces new tax breaks and exemptions such as lower individual tax rates and increased standard deductions. From the lens of the agricultural sector, the package expands and permanently extends 199A deductions, restores bonus depreciation, increases Section 179 expensing, and raises the estate tax exemption level. Acting as offsets, the bill also enacts cuts to social programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Within the Agriculture Committee’s jurisdiction and over a 10-year period, the bill cuts $294.6 billion mainly from the nutrition title, while also reinvesting $58.792 billion into vital farm bill programs and titles. From a specialty crop lens, the bill increases funding for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), Specialty Crop Block Grants, Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention, as well as enhances crop insurance and doubles funding for trade promotion programs like Market Assistance Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD). Now, the House reconciliation package heads to the Senate for consideration where Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority.

USDA Names Erin Morris as Next AMS Administrator

On May 13, Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the appointment of Erin Morris as the new Administrator for the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS). Erin Morris, a Texas A&M alum with over 25 years of experience at AMS, will replace Bruce Summers, who is retiring from his 40-year USDA career towards the end of this month. She previously was serving as Associate Administrator of AMS and right hand to Summers. In the announcement, Rollins commended Morris for her dedicated service to AMS and the farms and ranchers that it serves. In this new role, Morris will continue to support AMS in its crucial role ensuring fair and effective marketing of U.S. agriculture products.

Secretary Rollins Testifies Before Both House and Senate Appropriations

In the beginning of May, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins took to Capitol Hill and testified before both the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies. Generally, Democrats and Republicans alike agreed that the President’s fiscal year 2026 budget request must sufficiently fund USDA in order to best support farmers, ranchers, and families in rural America. Members of the Subcommittee emphasized the importance of USDA releasing the $20 billion in natural disaster relief funding that was appropriated through last December’s continuing resolution. Republicans commended Secretary Rollins for prioritizing producers and facilitating efforts to eliminate wasteful spending within the Department. Additionally, Republicans discussed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reform, expanding foreign market accessibility, and protecting domestic farmland from foreign ownership. Democrats argued that the FY26 request inappropriately cuts nutrition programs that support schools and foreign countries. Further, Democrats raised concerns about staff reductions, funding freezes at USDA, and how the Trump Administration’s tariff policy has exacerbated financial hardships in rural America. You can watch the Senate Agriculture Appropriations hearing here and the House Agriculture Appropriations hearing here.

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