Capitol Hill Busy With Child Nutrition and Labeling; Workers Fired for Staging Walk Out

Lawmakers are back in town this week to kick off the second session of the 114th Congress.While this isn't the biggest week for food and ag issues on Capitol Hill, things might not stay quiet for long. Senate Agriculture Committee leaders have said they want to take action on a child nutrition reauthorization and GMO labeling. And since farming, energy and other groups were unable to stop the Obama administration's new definition of waters of the United States in the omnibus, they are likely to press the House for a vote on a Senate-passed resolution of disapproval to roll back the regulation.

Some 190 Muslim workers - all Somali refugees - have been fired from a Cargill Inc. beef-processing plant, in Fort Morgan, Colo., after staging a walkout last month to protest the plant's prayer policy. The dispute reportedly began on Dec. 18 when 11 employees asked to pray at the same time and a supervisor requested the group break into smaller numbers. Ten workers resigned and other employees walked out. Representatives of the ousted employees told local news outlets that Cargill previously allowed workers to pray in increments of 5 to 10 minutes, though the company denies changing its policy.