The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, has denied an application filed by several ag groups for exemptions from certain requirements of the hours-of-service rules for drivers transporting livestock, insects and aquatic animals.
Groups applying for the exemptions included the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Livestock Marketing Association, American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association and the National Aquaculture Association.
The exemption would have allowed drivers, after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty, to be on duty for 16 hours and drive a total of 15 hours during that 16-hour period.
Japan approves revised safeguards in U.S.-Japan trade deal
The Upper House of Japan’s Diet recently approved the “Protocol Amending the Trade Agreement Between Japan and the United States of America” which revised the beef safeguard mechanism under the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA).
According to a statement from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, the updated agreement amends the beef safeguard trigger level under the USJTA with a new, three-trigger safeguard mechanism that will allow U.S. exporters to meet Japan’s growing demand for high-quality beef and reduce the probability that Japan will impose higher tariffs in the future.
With the Diet’s approval, the agreement, signed by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Japan’s ambassador to the U.S., Koji Tomita, in June of 2022, has now passed through the Japanese government’s finalization process.
“The protocol will ensure our farmers and ranchers continue to have access to one of the world’s most dynamic markets,” said Tai. “We are excited that Japan’s consumers can enjoy high-quality U.S. beef that is a staple of our agricultural industry.”
The U.S. and Japan are currently working on the domestic procedures needed for the agreement to enter into force.
Jeffries to replace Pelosi as Democratic House leader in 2023
Democrats in the House of Representatives have chosen caucus chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) to succeed Nancy Pelosi as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2023. Jeffries ran unopposed as leader, with Katherine Clark (D-Massachusetts), current assistant speaker, running as whip and Peter Aguilar (D-California), previous vice chair of the caucus, as caucus chair.
This makes Jeffries the first Black representative to lead a major party in either chamber of Congress. Since Republicans have the majority in the next Congress, Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar will all lead in a Democratic minority, the first in two terms.
