THIS WEEK IN DC

Farmers and ranchers are eagerly waiting President-elect Donald Trump's decision on an agriculture secretary, even as the new Congress convenes to ratify his election and prepare to move his agenda.

The 115th Congress convenes at noon on Tuesday with the swearing in of the new senators and House members. On Friday, lawmakers will meet in joint session to count and approve the electoral votes. Vice President Joe Biden will preside over the count and announce the results.

Trump, meanwhile, is expected to finally announce his choice for agriculture secretary this week. Although a last-minute candidate could still emerge, most of the signs point to a Hispanic nominee from Texas, either former Texas Rep. Henry Bonilla or Elsa Murano, a former president of Texas A&M University and under secretary of food safety at USDA. Both interviewed with Trump last week and afterwards were photographed with the president-elect.

Trump also interviewed Former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado. and Susan Combs, a former Texas agriculture commissioner and state comptroller, but Maldonado has past employee and tax issues that could make his confirmation challenging, and Trump interviewed Combs only briefly on Friday

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