Washington, DC (RI) — Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he and fellow Republicans in the chamber are forging ahead with the wide-ranging so-called Big, Beautiful Bill, and he remains hopeful they will be able to pass the massive tax-and-spending cut package by the White House’s deadline of July 4th.
The Senate’s parliamentarian has removed several key elements from the bill, including a provision that would have prevented people who aren’t documented from getting benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Reports say the parliamentarian also removed a measure for price supports on a host of farm commodities.
Another controversial measure was reportedly removed that would have created a framework for the sale of some 250-million acres of federal land, though Grassley says he might have supported that portion of the legislation.
The land is now owned by the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. The plots are in 11 states, all in the western US, none in Iowa. The provision would have opened up broad expanses of that wilderness for development.
