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
Biden administration priorities, NAIC direction, diversifying the talent pipeline in the insurance space and the insurance industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic were among the issues covered during the 16th annual...more
At this point in the election cycle, we would be traditionally talking about the elections in the past tense. But among the many unique and interesting aspects of the 2020 elections is that the outcomes are still coming in,...more
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
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
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
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
Next week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will take the next step in one of its 2018 priority items: mitigating contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Environmental Protection Agency...more
Congress and the Trump administration remain united in the desire to pass an infrastructure package (or packages) this year. Both branches have made infrastructure progress in recent months, as the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations...more
A major infrastructure package is a legislative priority for both Congress and the Trump administration. What policy considerations will shape the debate on how to execute an infrastructure bill? And what issues need to be...more
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law at the end of last year, features a number of provisions that will impact the energy sector. The provision that may ultimately have the most far-reaching impact is the “creation” of...more
On Wednesday, December 20, Congress passed H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill represents the most comprehensive reform to the tax code in almost three decades and a legislative victory for both the Republican...more
This week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their respective reports on potential areas of regulatory reform. The reports were spurred by President Trump’s March 28...more
On Thursday, July 27, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act of 2018, by a vote of 235 -192. The package includes the individual appropriations bills for Military...more
It has been over thirty years since the last major overhaul of the U.S. tax code, President Reagan's Tax Reform Act of 1986. That process took over two years and required cooperation between the President and both parties in...more
On February 16, 2017, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing & Insurance held a hearing entitled “Assessing the U.S.-EU Covered Agreement.” The hearing was the first opportunity for Committee members—or any...more
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is one of many policies facing an uncertain future as power changes hands in the federal government. While it’s impossible to know exactly what to expect from President-Elect Trump and the...more
The worst kept secret in all of politics is, “What are the key swing states?” in any election. At this point if you live in Ohio, North Carolina, Florida or Nevada, you do not need a reminder. The outcome of these states, in...more
The 2016 election has been the focal point of the country for the past year. As Americans prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday, November 8, we wanted to provide a quick primer on how the election could impact the balance...more
On Wednesday, September 28, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5303, the Water Resources Development Act of 2016. House action comes on the heels of the Senate’s passage of its version (S. 2848) earlier this month....more