Califf confirmed: Robert M. Califf, a cardiologist who led the FDA briefly in 2016, was confirmed Tuesday, 50 to 46, for a second stint as commissioner, giving the embattled agency its first permanent head in more than a year. (Washington Post)
PFAS in groundwater: As drought forces more municipalities to draw water from underground aquifers and wells, emerging data show PFAS contamination could be prevalent in some of those groundwater sources. (Bloomberg Law)
Labor trafficking: Democrat Joaquin Arambula introduced a bill in the California Assembly that would establish a labor trafficking unit within Cal/OSHA to investigate cases of people being forced into jobs with little or no pay. (CalMatters)
Farm Bill priorities: The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture will focus its advocacy efforts regarding the 2023 bill on 10 areas, including voluntary climate initiatives, more flexibility in farm-to-school programs, and maintaining funding for cyber security. (NASDA)
Protect mature trees: A coalition of more than 70 groups is urging the Biden administration to take executive action to protect mature forests on federal lands, which the coalition says are critical to mitigating climate change. (Climate Forests Campaign)