Remember how we said that Congress needed to get moving on comprehensive tax reform if there was any realistic chance for passage this year? And remember we said that there were a lot of distractions? Boy, we didn’t know the half of it!

Congress is back in Washington after the August recess with a heavy agenda for the remainder of the year, including increasing the national debt limit, funding the government for Fiscal Year 2018 and providing disaster relief for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Acting on promises made during the 2016 presidential campaign, President Trump announced in April two far-reaching trade investigations on the potential national-security impacts of imported steel and aluminum.

The Trump Administration has reached the unofficial (but much analyzed) 100-day mark, and the Forging Industry Association continued its commitment to involvement in public policy with its 14th Annual Lobby Day.

One thing is certain. The first 40 days of the Trump Administration have been different than any Presidency in recent memory, if not ever.

As of this writing, President-elect Trump (11 days away from his inauguration) has named his choices for most of the Cabinet and top White House positions. Here’s what to expect in the first few weeks of this Congress.

On Jan. 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump will become the 45th President of the United States, and Republicans will be in charge of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

No matter who wins on Nov. 8, the 2016 Presidential race will break new ground. We’ll either have the first female President or the first President elected by breaking every rule in the political handbook.

As the Presidential campaign lurches toward November, both parties clearly believe that trade policy is a hot-button issue with voters of all persuasions.