Congress to vote on making Summer EBT program permanent
The Summer EBT program, which helps low-income families buy groceries for school-age children, would become permanent as part of the government funding bill unveiled on Tuesday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the program, which could aid 29 million children, was a key victory of the $1.7 trillion package.
U.S. requests third consultation on Canadian dairy quotas
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is six months shy of its third anniversary and the United States already has requested a third set of bilateral consultations over its objections to Canada’s dairy quota system. U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai announced the request on Tuesday, saying the government has identified additional aspects of Canadian import rules that violate its agreement to allow a larger volume of U.S. dairy imports.
#UPDATE
The deep roots of Mexico’s trade dispute with U.S. over GMO corn
The history of the current dispute between Mexico and the U.S. over genetically modified corn has roots much deeper than the presidential decree that set it off. Opposition to GMO crops in Mexico has simmered for 20 years, born of worries that ancient landrace varieties of corn that are central to the country’s social, cultural and economic well-being would be lost.
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
Trudeau to join summit meeting: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is expected to join his U.S. and Mexican counterparts for the North American Leaders Summit, also known as the Three Amigos meeting, on Jan. 10 in Mexico City. (Canadian Press)
Chronic disease risk for farmworkers: A study of the health profile of farmworkers in California found a high chronic-disease burden, with women at higher risk of obesity and men at higher risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. (University of California)
Climate aid falls short: The omnibus government funding bill provides just over $1 billion for international climate finance, not the $5.3 billion needed to meet President Biden’s pledge of aid to poorer nations, according to the Natural Resource Defense Council. (Business Insider)
Slowdown of whale protections: In a step to protect the lobster industry, the Maine congressional delegation insisted on language in the government funding bill that would delay for six years new protections for the endangered North Atlantic right whale. (Associated Press)
USDA aid for bioplastics: The USDA awarded a total of $9.5 million to three projects that would create value-added bioproducts from agricultural commodities. One project would convert food waste into packaging and containers for food and beverages. (USDA)
