When Congress returns from its two-week District Work Period this week, it will begin the ‘home stretch’ prior to the 2022 elections. The House is currently scheduled to be in D.C. for roughly 10 weeks prior to the August...more
On January 25, 2022, Democratic leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled long-awaited legislation, the America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength...more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is kicking off 2022 — a year expected to be particularly active for the regulation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — by moving forward with one of the agency’s keystone...more
Recently the EPA released a proposed rule establishing Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), while also denying more than 60 small refinery exemption (SRE) petitions and proposing other...more
Continuing its focus on reducing potential exposure from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 8 that it would be seeking comment on its Preliminary...more
Non-governmental entities are applying more public pressure on regulators and companies regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). While state and federal regulators have been monitoring PFAS chemicals for decades,...more
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2467, PFAS Action Act of 2021, on July 21. The legislation contains a series of provisions aimed at cracking down on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and contamination...more
On June 10, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced multiple measures aimed at enhancing regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These actions come during a week where lawmakers on...more
We don’t need to wait for the confirmation of Michael Regan as the new Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to get the first look at how the Biden administration intends to regulate certain per- and...more
After months of negotiating and political stalemate, Congress passed an additional COVID-19 relief package, HR 133, just before midnight Monday night. Ultimately, Congress was able to end months of gridlock by combining the...more
In an attempt to break the logjam on a COVID-19 relief package before Congress adjourns, a group of bipartisan lawmakers put forth a $908 billion relief package that seems to be a middle-ground between the Democrats’ $2...more
On Monday, July 27, Senate Republicans released a series of bills to embody the latest COVID-19 relief package. Proposing several separate bills at once gives the Senate the option of passing provisions that enjoy broader...more
7/29/2020
/ CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Economic Injury Disaster Loans ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Health Care Providers ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
Telehealth ,
Unemployment Insurance ,
Virus Testing
On July 15, 2020, the White House released the long-anticipated Final Rule entitled, “Update to the Regulations Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).” According to the White...more
On Tuesday the United States Senate passed by unanimous consent a $484 billion expansion of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, including $310 billion for the popular Paycheck Protection Program and...more
The U.S. House of Representatives has just joined the Senate in passing the $2 trillion COVID-19 “Phase 3” relief bill, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The bill will soon be sent to the...more
3/31/2020
/ Business Interruption ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
FDIC ,
Lenders ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Payroll Taxes ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Tax Relief
Following days of protracted negotiations, Congress is heading toward enacting a $2 trillion measure to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Anticipated to clear the House of Representatives on Friday and be promptly signed...more
The Trump administration’s regulation reform has been one of the more consistent elements of both its policy development and political messaging. The President and congressional Republicans have touted improvements to the...more
A last-minute deal to extend several expired and expiring tax provisions was reached among House, Senate and Trump administration negotiators, ending months-long speculation about the package. The deal, which includes a...more
On October 30, the House Energy & Commerce Committee held a hearing entitled, “Protecting the RFS: The Trump Administration’s Abuse of Secret Waivers.” The hearing was an opportunity for the committee to wade into the ongoing...more
A dispute between two of President Trump’s key constituencies entered a new phase on October 15, when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to establish renewable fuel...more
On July 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its proposed volume standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) — namely, the agency unveiled proposed Renewable Volume Standards for 2020 and...more
Congressional consideration of action to address the impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is increasing. Last week, the House Oversight & Reform Committee held its first hearing of the new Congress on the...more
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its long-awaited action plan to address the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS are chemicals that were once used in a wide variety of...more
On November 30, the EPA released its final rule for 2019/2020 renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for the Renewable Fuel Standard. The move establishes the marketplace for ethanol and other renewable fuels for the coming...more
On August 21, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the long-awaited proposed rule to replace the Obama-era Clean Power Plan (CPP). The Affordable Clean Energy rule (ACE), signed by EPA Acting...more