75% domestic requirement takes effect in 2029 On March 7, the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council issued a final rule changing the “Buy American” requirements for federal contractors. The final rule is very similar to the proposed rule published in July 2021 and it materially changes the regulations at FAR Part 25, which implements the … Continue Reading
The 16 day partial federal shutdown is over. Over half a million furloughed federal employees have returned to work; national parks are again welcoming visitors; and the threat of our nation defaulting on its debts has been averted. But what began as a fight over funding of the Affordable Care Act (a/k/a “Obamacare”) has turned … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Peter Cassidy. The April 17, 2013 explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas, has sharpened the ongoing debate over the adequacy of present federal safety requirements for chemical facilities. With over 14 persons killed and some 200 injured, controversy exists over the cause of the explosion. Congress and … Continue Reading
Sequestration. It’s a process in Washington where thoughtful decisions on spending and taxation priorities are being replaced with last minute politicking, grandstanding, and eventual 11th hour deal-making. The latest showdown revolves around the March 1st deadline agreed to by Congress and the President in the budget deal negotiated in December (Public Law 112-240). That is … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Robert Helland and Gunjan Talati. Congress and the Obama Administration have driven the economy from the “Fiscal Cliff,” with the last-minute tax and spending deal that is expected to be signed into law. But it’s a Pyrrhic victory: the battle over taxes and spending will go on (and on) … Continue Reading
As the last outstanding Congressional races are being decided, we note what has not changed as a result of the 2012 elections. For one thing, the Democrats still control the White House and Senate and the Republicans still control the House of Representatives. For another, none of the issues facing Congress and the President – … Continue Reading
Key committees in Congress have announced that they will consider requests from Members to temporarily reduce or suspend tariffs on certain imported products as part of a Miscellaneous Tariff Bill (“MTB”) that is expected to be considered by Congress later this year. Congress regularly takes up and passes MTBs as an effort to boost the … Continue Reading
The midterm elections are (finally) over. With the Republicans taking over the House of Representatives next year and the Democrats keeping control of the Senate, albeit by a smaller margin, the question is what, if anything, will get accomplished in the 112th Congress? Overall, the chance for passage of major legislative initiatives in areas such … Continue Reading
In Washington, all attention right now is on the rapidly approaching midterm congressional elections and the efforts by Democrats to retain their majorities in both houses of Congress. However, regardless of whether Democrats lose control of the House of Representatives or Senate, members of Congress are expected to return to Washington on November 15th to … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Larry Demase, Jennifer Smokelin, and David Wagner. In the weeks that have passed since our previous article on climate change activity in Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency, it has become evident that Washington is more likely to see a snowstorm this summer than congressional passage of a cap-and-trade measure … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Joelle Laszlo. While most people probably do not associate actions of Congress with the 1970s American pop band The Carpenters, there is a nice reminder in the duo’s music that the passage of a bill on the Hill is often only the first step in an extensive process to … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Jim Burns. This week, President Obama signed into law a $17.6 billion jobs creation package passed by Congress, H.R. 2847, the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (“HIRE Act”). This legislation includes incentives for businesses to hire the unemployed; extension of infrastructure programs affecting surface transportation, energy, and school construction projects; … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Michael Bleier, Peter Blasier, and Perry Napolitano. The next few weeks are make-or-break for the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats as they consider separate and often competing proposals on the regulation of financial institutions. The House of Representatives last year passed its own version of legislation, H.R. 4173, the “Wall … Continue Reading
