Lawmakers are back in Washington, D.C. after the holiday break.
According to POLITICO, GMO labeling, child nutrition authorization, approval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other pending legislation is expected to be tackled in the new year.
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks concluded in late October. The deal between the U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim countries is said to be the largest free trade agreement involving the U.S.
If approved by Congress, TPP will eliminate more than 18,000 taxes other countries place on U.S. goods in the form of tariffs.
The tariff reductions included in the deal will make the export of U.S. beef and other products more price competitive.
Also on the table is a proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which is often referred to as Obamacare. According to Bloomberg, a bill to repeal the legislation has already been passed by the Senate and now requires House approval.
House Speaker Paul Ryan has indicated it will be the first bill considered in the House as the second session of the 114th Congress.
Lawmakers could also tackle the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in the coming months.
Legislation rolling back the rule was not included in the omnibus spending bill that Congress passed before the Christmas break, so lawmakers could push the House for a vote on the Senate resolution against WOTUS.
As the session continues, Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) will continue to provide updates on agricultural and rural Texas related issues on www.TexasFarmBureau.org and in TFB publications.