NDFC - This Week in Congress
This Week in Congress
June 12, 2026
Congress was in session this week and the House considered a broad package of legislation focused on government efficiency, fraud prevention, national security, and labor policy.
Among the most significant actions was House consideration of the reconciliation package, commonly referred to as "Reconciliation 2.0" (S. 2), along with several measures designed to strengthen oversight of federal payments and reduce fraud across government programs.
The House also advanced numerous fraud-prevention initiatives, including legislation to:
• Establish additional verification requirements before federal agencies certify or issue payments.
• Prohibit certain individuals convicted of specified felonies from receiving federal contracts or grants.
• Require agencies to conduct regular fraud-risk assessments of federal payment programs.
• Direct the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to issue government-wide guidance on fraud prevention.
• Create a coordinated anti-fraud and improper payment prevention framework led by the Treasury Department and OMB.
On foreign policy and national security matters, the House considered several measures originating from the Foreign Affairs Committee, including legislation aimed at preventing the illegal export of drone components to Iran, imposing sanctions on individuals advocating violence against U.S. and allied leaders, and encouraging U.S. allies to procure American-made defense equipment.
The House also remained prepared to act on an extension of Section 702 surveillance authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) should the Senate complete action on the measure.
In labor policy, members continued discussions surrounding legislation that would accelerate collective bargaining negotiations following union recognition and establish a pathway to binding arbitration if an initial labor agreement is not reached within specified timeframes.
The Senate returned to session this week with a primary focus on extending Section 702 FISA surveillance authorities, a key national security priority. Senators also devoted floor time to advancing nominations for positions throughout the Trump Administration.
As Congress moves forward, attention remains focused on reconciliation legislation, federal payment integrity initiatives, national security authorities, and confirmation activity, all of which are expected to remain prominent items on the congressional agenda in the weeks ahead.
Finally, last week Republican James Gallagher won a special election in California to fill the seat previously held by Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA). Once Gallagher is sworn in, party ratios in the House will be 219 Republicans to 212 Democrats, improving Republicans to a three-vote majority.
Northeast Young Cooperators Head to Capitol Hill to Advocate for Dairy Policy
This week, Young Cooperators (YCs) from the Northeast representing Upstate Niagara Cooperative (UNC) were Seery and Ashley Donnan and Magdalene Gerst, along with Brandon and Tia Smith and Brian McGarry representing Agri-Mark Cooperative participated in NMPF’s YC Dairy Policy & Legislative Forum, a two-day program bringing together dairy leaders from across the country to learn about political engagement, current dairy policy issues, and effective advocacy.
During the forum, participants received training on how to be strong spokespersons for the dairy industry and how to engage with elected officials on the challenges facing their farms and communities. Following the training, the Northeast YCs traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and their staff from the Northeast.
The group focused on several top priorities:
• Passage of the Farm Bill to ensure continued support for dairy producers and rural communities.
• Dairy Pride Act advocacy, promoting clear labeling and fair representation of dairy products in the marketplace.
• Immigration reform, including targeted policies to help address labor shortages in the dairy sector.
• US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) implementation, emphasizing the importance of trade policies that protect U.S. dairy farmers.
By bringing the voices of emerging dairy leaders directly to Congress, the Northeast YCs highlighted the critical role of the next generation in shaping dairy policy and advocating for a sustainable future for the industry. Their participation underscores the ongoing importance of grassroots engagement and youth leadership in agriculture.
Senate Farm Bill Effort Gains Momentum as Draft Expected in June
Momentum continues to build in the Senate's effort to advance a long-awaited farm bill, with Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Boozman (R-AR) indicating that a draft proposal will be released later this month.
On Monday, Chair Boozman said the committee plans to unveil its farm bill text "in the next week or so ... the next couple weeks," signaling a significant step forward in the legislative process after months of negotiations and uncertainty surrounding the measure.
While the release of draft language is imminent, Boozman noted that a formal committee markup will not occur before Congress breaks for the July 4 recess. Even so, the forthcoming draft represents an important milestone as members work to update federal farm and nutrition programs that expired under the previous farm bill framework.
One of the key issues under discussion remains proposed reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The House-passed provision would require states to share in SNAP benefit costs based on their payment error rates, a proposal that has generated debate between Republicans and Democrats.
Boozman acknowledged ongoing bipartisan negotiations over the SNAP cost-sharing provision. While the legislation provides states with the highest error rates additional time to comply, Democrats have argued that all states should be treated equally regardless of error rates. According to Boozman, discussions are continuing as lawmakers seek common ground while balancing budgetary constraints.
"There are limits because of the costs," Boozman said, but emphasized that negotiators are actively "trying to figure out a pathway" forward.
With the House having already advanced its priorities through reconciliation legislation, attention is increasingly turning to the Senate as the chamber seeks a path toward enactment of a comprehensive farm bill.
New World Screwworm Detected in Texas Raises Concerns for Livestock Producers
Federal and state animal health officials are responding to the first confirmed cases of New World screwworm (NWS) detected in the United States in decades. On June 3, the USDA’s Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of NWS larvae in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas. The larvae were discovered in the animal's umbilical area. Shortly thereafter, officials identified a second infested calf approximately 5.6 miles from the initial detection site.
New World screwworm is a highly destructive parasite whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, including cattle. Infestations can cause severe wounds, secondary infections, weight loss, reduced productivity, and, if left untreated, death.
The discovery has prompted immediate containment and eradication efforts by USDA and state animal health authorities. Dairy and livestock producers are being urged to closely monitor animals for unusual wounds or lesions and to report any suspected cases immediately to veterinarians or animal health officials. While officials emphasize that rapid response measures are underway, the detections serve as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in protecting the nation's livestock industry from this historically devastating pest.
Reconciliation 2.0 Advances After Anti-Weaponization Fund Controversy Eases
As mentioned in last week’s update, Senate consideration of the second reconciliation package stalled in late May amid growing Republican concerns over the Anti-Weaponization Fund established as part of the settlement agreement resolving President Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Momentum returned last week after the Department of Justice (DOJ) informed the court that it would comply with an order temporarily halting activities related to the Fund while legal questions are reviewed. The DOJ subsequently provided additional assurances, stating that it would not move forward with implementation of the Fund.
With those commitments in hand, Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) moved to restart consideration of a revised Reconciliation 2.0 package. The updated legislation removed funding previously designated for the proposed White House ballroom project while maintaining overall spending levels. The Senate approved the initial procedural motion to begin floor consideration by a largely party-line vote of 53-46.
Floor debate and the subsequent vote-a-rama highlighted growing tensions within the Republican Conference. Several Republican senators broke with party leadership to support amendments targeting the Anti-Weaponization Fund, the White House ballroom project, and actions involving the Acting Director of National Intelligence. While many of these amendments required a 60-vote threshold and therefore had little chance of adoption, the votes nevertheless served as a public display of concerns among some Republican members.
One amendment requiring only a simple majority vote proved particularly challenging for leadership. Senate leaders kept the vote open for nearly three hours while working to secure the necessary support. Ultimately, Sen. Cassidy (R-LA) changed his vote, allowing several Republican colleagues facing difficult reelection campaigns to support the amendment without jeopardizing its defeat.
The willingness of a broader group of Republican senators to challenge leadership on these votes—including members not typically known for opposing either Senate leadership or the White House—underscored the political pressures facing the conference heading into the election cycle. The episode suggested that maintaining party unity may become increasingly difficult as vulnerable members seek to establish greater independence from an administration facing declining public approval ratings.
Despite the internal divisions, Republican leaders ultimately held their conference together on final passage. The Senate approved the reconciliation package early Friday morning by a vote of 52-47. Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) joined all Democrats in opposing the measure, while Sen. Bennet (D-CO) did not vote.
The legislation now moves to the House, where lawmakers are expected to consider the measure this week.
FISA Section 702 Extension Faces Growing Political Obstacles
With the expirationof Section 702 surveillance authorities rapidly approaching on June 12, congressional leaders are confronting another high-stakes legislative challenge. Securing passage of a temporary extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) provision is proving nearly as difficult as advancing the recently approved reconciliation package.
In an effort to build bipartisan support, House and Senate leaders unveiled a compromise proposal last week that modifies the previous extension bill. The revised measure would prohibit the FBI from using information collected under Section 702 in criminal prosecutions involving U.S. persons. The legislation also includes a three-year prohibition on the implementation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), a provision sought by many conservative members.
Notably absent from the compromise, however, is the warrant requirement demanded by privacy-focused lawmakers in both parties. Despite that omission, congressional leaders initially believed the revised proposal could attract enough Democratic support to move through both chambers.
Those prospects changed dramatically following President Trump's unexpected announcement that Bill Pulte would serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence while continuing his duties as Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. In response, Senate and House Democrats—including several members typically open to bipartisan negotiations—have indicated they will oppose any Section 702 extension unless the Administration either removes Pulte from the acting role or nominates a qualified permanent candidate to lead the intelligence community.
The Democratic position has significantly complicated the path forward. Congressional leaders likely need support from a dozen or more Senate Democrats, along with an even larger number of House Democrats, to offset opposition from conservative Republicans who remain skeptical of surveillance authorities. As a result, the minority party now possesses substantial leverage over the outcome of the debate.
Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) tested that leverage last week when he brought forward a motion to proceed to consideration of the FISA extension measure. The effort fell short after seven Republicans—Sens. Hawley (R-MO), Kennedy (R-LA), Lee (R-UT), Paul (R-KY), Schmitt (R-MO), Scott (R-FL), and Tuberville (R-AL)—joined nearly every Senate Democrat in opposition. Sen. Fetterman (D-PA) was the lone Democrat to support the procedural motion.
With the June 12 deadline fast approaching, lawmakers face mounting pressure to reach a compromise. Whether congressional leaders can bridge the divide between national security advocates, privacy hawks, conservative skeptics, and Democrats demanding changes at the top of the intelligence community will determine whether Congress can avoid a lapse in one of the government's most significant surveillance authorities.
White House Faces Setback on Key Foreign Policy Votes
Last week, the House of Representatives delivered a notable rebuke to the White House on two high-profile foreign policy measures, highlighting fractures within the Republican Conference.
The chamber approved an Iran War Powers resolution by a vote of 215-208, with four Republicans breaking ranks to join Democrats: Reps. Barrett (R-MI), Davidson (R-OH), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Massie (R-KY).
In a separate vote, the House advanced a bill providing aid to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia. Six Republicans initially crossed party lines to adopt a motion to discharge the measure from committee, and an additional twelve GOP members joined them in supporting the final bill.
While any such legislation would likely face a presidential veto given President Trump’s stated opposition to constraints on his foreign policy authority, the votes reveal growing dissent among Republican lawmakers. Observers note that these defections signal increasing tension within the party over the President’s foreign policy priorities, particularly in the run-up to the next election cycle.
The developments underscore a key political dynamic: even as the White House retains significant influence over Republican lawmakers, members are increasingly willing to publicly diverge on high-stakes foreign policy issues.
