From the CEO
Colin Woodall
MAKING FRIENDS
The 2024 election is one that will be studied for years to come . A former president comes back to run for a second term . An incumbent president is forced to back down to make room for his “ more electable ” vice president . An assassination attempt . Then another . Insanely wrong polling . More than $ 16 billion spent . This election was the stuff of movies , but the result was about as definitive as you could expect in American politics today . Instead of waiting days or weeks to see who would move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue , we knew on election night , something that is increasingly rare . When the smoke cleared , former President Trump won 312 electoral votes , 42 more than the 270 needed to win , and eight more than he won in 2016 . He also won the popular vote by more than three million votes .
Now , President-elect Trump and his team are working feverishly to prepare for the transition . He is quickly nominating individuals to serve in his Cabinet and in appointed positions throughout the federal departments . He is also working on his list of priorities to tackle as soon as he is sworn in on Jan . 20 . We are at the table with the transition team to ensure NCBA ’ s policy priorities are included . Leading that list is a push for quick action on the expiring tax provisions from the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act . In particular , the improvements we secured in the Death Tax exemption levels and tax rates expire at the end of 2025 . We need quick action on these expiring provisions , so you have time to plan and prepare . Waiting until the end of 2025 to act is unacceptable . Since he was president and signed the 2017 bill into law , we expect President Trump will act quickly . It is important to remember that these are no longer tax cuts , this is an extension of current U . S . tax policy .
Another priority will be getting the Trump administration to fix the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans . Under President Biden ’ s leadership , Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has allowed agenda-driven “ science ” to influence the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee to a point where they are recommending beans and lentils over beef . The new Trump administration will be able to reinsert evidence-based , peer-reviewed science to keep us at the center of the plate . Taxes and Dietary Guidelines are just two priorities we know the new administration will support . We have a long list of overburdensome rules and regulations we will work with President Trump to roll back .
To help achieve his priorities , he will have a Republican-led Senate . The Republicans gained four seats to have a 53 to 47 majority . While this gives them the opportunity to lead , they will still need to work with Democrats to reach that magic 60 vote threshold required in many instances to consider and pass legislation in the Senate . That won ’ t always be easy , especially since moderate Democrats like Joe Manchin from West Virginia are no longer in the Senate . Control of the House of Representatives has gone to the Republicans as well , what is known as a trifecta . However , Republicans are only retaining control by a slim margin .
Between now and the end of the year , we need Congress to fund the government for fiscal year 2025 . Funding currently runs out on Dec . 20 , 2024 . We also need them to pass a Farm Bill . Agriculture needs certainty , and the bill passed by the House Agriculture Committee last spring contains all of NCBA ’ s requests . It would be nice to allow the new Congress and administration to start fresh in January .
It is important to remember , though , President Biden is still in charge and will be until Inauguration Day . That means he and his team are trying to finalize as many rules and regulations as they can . We have talked previously about the changes they are proposing to the Packers & Stockyards Act . These proposals would roll back 40 years of value-added marketing programs . We continue to fight back against President Biden and Secretary Vilsack taking your marketing options away from you . The “ Bidenomics ” approach to cattle marketing will not be beneficial to your bottom line .
Regardless of the election outcome , we will be working on making friends among the new Trump team , the new Senate offices , and the new House offices . We need friends on both sides of the aisle to be successful in securing our policy priorities . Any organization or group that works with only one party will be sorely disappointed in what they can achieve . Washington , D . C ., is still a place where face-to-face meetings make the most impact , and nobody covers Capitol Hill better than NCBA . This is why we have an office on Pennsylvania Avenue and a full-time staff to build relationships and be your voice . We are ready to work with all members of the new Congress , and we will look at every opportunity to keep the government out of your business .
6 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN www . NCBA . org