Farm state members of Congress are also attempting to use the must pass FY 2026 funding measure as the legislative vehicle to get federal restrictions lifted on full-year U.S. sales of higher ethanol fuel blends, known as E15. The longtime effort by biofuel producers and growers of corn, used in E15 fuel production, is gaining support. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) a leading proponent for allowing year-round use of the E15 blend has again introduced legislation, S. 593, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, that would amend the Clean Air Act to lift the current restriction. Sen. John Boozman and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Chair and top Democrat respectively on the Senate Ag Committee, are both involved in discussions to make it happen and indicate growing support for the initiative. The House version of the legislation, H.R. 1346, also has bipartisan support with numerous co-sponsors from both parties.
Category: Legislative Updates
The clock has already started to tick on efforts to reauthorize the federal-highway legislation. The country’s primary surface transportation policy law was last reauthorized in 2021 and it expires at the end of September. Transportation policymakers on Capitol Hill and in the Administration have pledged to update the law prior to its expiration.
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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has moved to hire back employees who were previously laid off, signaling a renewed emphasis on workplace safety and enforcement capacity. These layoffs, which reduced staffing levels across several regions, had strained the agency’s ability to conduct inspections, respond to complaints, and provide timely guidance to employers and workers. Rehiring experienced staff allows OSHA to quickly restore institutional knowledge and operational readiness without the delays associated with onboarding entirely new personnel.
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The outlook for corn sales, the biggest U.S. crop, is in sharp focus in Congress in an effort to offer market relief for farmers. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) has again introduced legislation, S. 593, the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, that would amend the Clean Air Act to allow year-round, nationwide sales of E15 gasoline (15 % ethanol blends) by applying the Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) waiver that currently only covers E10 fuel. While administrative waivers have applied the RVP waiver to E15 fuel, this legislation would make it permanent. The bill has garnered notable bipartisan support. Fischer has been joined by both Republican and Democratic senators in reintroducing this legislation. While the legislation has failed to get over the finish line for years, with more than a third of U.S. corn used each year to make ethanol, the industry and farm state lawmakers are hoping to find a way to quickly pass the measure early this year. That includes potentially adding it to funding legislation needed by Jan. 30 to keep the government open.
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Congress returned this week from the holiday recess facing a long list of unfinished legislative business. Top on the list is to complete action on the remaining FY 2026 funding bills. In its last action prior to recess, Congress ended the longest government shutdown by passing a package three of the twelve full-year appropriations bills and approving a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the rest the government until January 30, 2026. Nine bills still need to be finalized. The Department of Agriculture legislation was one of the three approved bills so USDA programs are no longer threatened. The transportation appropriations bill was not finalized which could affect some programs; however, highway and bridge construction programs are not directly impacted because they are funded through the Highway Trust fund. Negotiations are ongoing for the remaining bills, but key disagreements, especially on Defense and HHS, suggest another temporary fix (CR) may be needed.
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Looking ahead to other action on Capitol Hill, Agri-pulse reports that House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., has said he wants to move a farm bill this month to reauthorize key programs not included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last July. The piecemeal approach follows lawmakers failing once again last year to clear a full, five-year ag measure. The last time that happened was 2018, and the partisan divide since then has only widened.
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Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) has introduced the “Lets Protect Workers Act” which would increase penalties on employers that violate federal labor and employment law. The bill has been co-sponsored by seventy-three (73) other Democrats. Specifically, the bill would 1) significantly increase the civil penalties for violations of OSHA standards, and 2) resurrect OSHA’s “Volks” rule by extending the period during which OSHA can issue a citation for injury and illness recordkeeping violations.
Key provisions of the legislation include:
• Increased penalty for willful and repeat violations to $800k from $70k and not less than $60k, currently $5k.
• Increase the penalty for serious violations to $80k from $7k
• Increase the penalty for other than serious violations to $40k from $7k
• Increase the penalty for failure to abate a violation to $80k from $7k
• Increase the penalty for violations of OSHA’s posting requirements to $40k from $7k for each occurrence
The LET’s Protect Workers Act also includes provisions that would raise penalties for violation of Department of Labor (DOL) standards on child labor, farmworker protection, and minimum wage and overtime.
President Trump announced on December 8 a $12 billion farm aid package intended to support American farmers struggling with financial losses caused by trade wars, tariffs, and rising production costs. The aid package is designed to provide immediate relief to farmers who have faced declining export markets, particularly after China reduced purchases of U.S. soybeans and other crops in response to tariffs.
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The IRS announced that, for tax year 2025, employers will not face penalties for failing to separately report qualified overtime compensation. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) specifically allows eligible employees to deduct a certain amount of qualifying overtime pay from their federal taxable income for 2025-2028 tax years. This transition relief applies only for 2025, as Forms W-2 and 1099 will not be updated to reflect the new overtime reporting requirements until later years. Employers may still choose to provide separate overtime details to help employees claim new deductions, but it is not mandatory for 2025. Most non-exempt, hourly workers are eligible for the deduction. Industries mentioned as potential beneficiaries in preliminary guidance include construction.
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LICA is cooperating with the Business Coalition for Fair Competition (BCFC) in calling for a White House Conference on Small Business. Reps. Brad Finstad (R-MN) and Don Davis (D-NC) will be introducing the White House Conference on Small Business Act of 2025 this week. There have been three White House Conference on Small Business (WHCSB) in 1980, 1986, and 1995. They were convened by Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton in an effort to foster better relationships with members of the business community, Congress and the White House to develop innovative policy solutions to economic problems.
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