Brazilian Congress: list of priorities for 2022 has 45 proposals

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Presidential Palace announced this year’s list of priority proposals to be voted on in the House of Representatives and the Senate. So far, of the 45 proposals listed, 39 are already in progress in the Legislative, and six are still being prepared.

With proposals in areas such as the economy, health, and infrastructure, according to the government’s leader in the House, Representative Ricardo Barros, the objective of the matters is to “improve the State’s operation, break down barriers to economic activity to modernize Brazil and generate jobs, and make citizens’ lives easier.

Of the proposals listed in Ordinance 667/22, published on Wednesday, February 9, in an extra edition of the Official Federal Gazette (DOU), most, 23, are already under consideration by the deputies. Regarding infrastructure, the new legal framework for the electricity sector, Bill (PL) 414/21, will receive priority attention from the government in the House. The project improves the regulatory and commercial model of the electricity sector to expand the free market.

ECONOMY

In the economic agenda, the highlights already under analysis in the House of Representatives are the Guarantees Framework (PL 4188/21) and the creation of the Social Contribution on Transactions with Goods and Services (CBS) (PL 3887/20).

The reduction of Brazil’s cost is the subject of two priority projects for the government: the one that creates the National Civil Identification, simplifying the use of documents by citizens (PL 3228/21); and the one that regulates the private representation of interests by natural or legal persons before public agents (PL 4391/21).

SOCIAL

In the social area, the priority is Provisional Measure (PM) 1076/21, which establishes an extra benefit for the Brazil Aid. On the list are also the proposal regarding the temporal landmark of indigenous lands (PL 490/07); the project that increases accessibility to reading for people with disabilities (PL 4315/21); and the one that stimulates and facilitates the generation of jobs, through the Green and Yellow Contract (PL 6160/19).

HEALTH

In health, the legislative priorities are Senate Bill (PLS) 589/21, which improves the quality control of already registered medications; PL 2552/21, which modernizes the tracking of production and consumption of medicines; and PL 1613/21, which facilitates the incorporation of technologies to the Unified Health System (SUS).

PUBLIC SAFETY

Other government priorities are PL 360/21, which ends the possibility of temporary exits for prisoners, and PL 6438/19, which extends the right to bear arms to several categories of public servants.

Also high on the agenda are PL 1776/15, which includes pedophilia in the list of heinous crimes; and PL 3780/20, which establishes stricter punishments for sexual abuse committed by priests, health or education professionals, or any person who uses the trust of the victim who is a minor or incapable to commit this type of crime.

MINING

Mining on indigenous lands is the subject of PL 191/20, another government priority. The proposal establishes specific conditions for this activity and creates an indemnity for restricting the usufruct of indigenous lands.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

In the environmental area, the highlights are the bill that creates the National Policy on Climate Change (PL 6539/19); the bill that regulates the carbon market in Brazil (PL 528/21); and the bill that gives more agility and flexibility to forest concessions (PL 5518/20).

AGRICULTURE

PL 6299/02, also called the Safe Food Law, regulates the use and inspection of pesticides and is on the legislative agenda for 2022.

Another priority is PL 1293/21, which encourages self-control in food production, revoking legal provisions that establish penalties for agricultural defense.

EDUCATION

In education, PL 2401/19, which regulates the right to homeschooling, is also a priority for President Jair Bolsonaro’s government. Another is the PL 6/20, which makes continued progression illegal all over Brazil, abolishing the organization by cycles.

With information from Agência Câmara