OVERNIGHT REGULATION: Panel to vote on AG nominee
February 25, 2015
February 25, 2015
Welcome to OVERNIGHT REGULATION, your daily rundown of rules from Capitol Hill and beyond. It's Wednesday evening here in Washington, and we're looking ahead to tomorrow's Senate vote on Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch.
THE BIG STORY
Barring anymore setbacks, a Senate panel will vote Thursday morning on the nomination of President Obama's pick to serve as the next attorney general.
Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch's confirmation has been held up by a few Republicans who are concerned about her stance on immigration and her role in a money laundering case. http://bit.ly/1DK8bVt
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) delayed the committee vote early this month to get more answers from Lynch on these contentious issues. He's unlikely to do so again.
Democrats say they are frustrated by the delay. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) pointed out that Lynch's nomination has been pending for 109 days.
"Loretta Lynch is a superb prosecutor who has earned the respect and admiration of both Republicans and Democrats," Leahy said Wednesday. "Now she is set to finally receive a vote in committee. Rather than seeking to score political points for their next election, senators should consider Ms. Lynch's long and laudable record of public service. Our nation's top law enforcement officer deserves no less."
Lynch enjoys universal support from Democrats and only needs two Republicans to vote her out of the committee and send her to the Senate floor for confirmation. http://bit.ly/
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) intends to vote for Lynch, while Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), and even Grassley have had positive things to say about her.
If Lynch is voted through the committee, the entire Senate will vote on whether to confirm her.
ON TAP FOR THURSDAY
The National Association of Manufacturers plans to release an update on the economic impact of the Environmental Protection Agency's new proposed ozone standard. The study is expected to show that a more stringent standard of 65 parts per billion could end up being the most expensive regulation in U.S. history. The EPA has proposed a standard of 65 to 70 parts per billion.
The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will have a meeting to mark up a number of bills including the Child Nicotine Poisoning Act of 2015, which would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue new rules requiring safer, child-resistant packaging for liquid nicotine containers used for e-cigarettes. http://1.usa.
The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing to assess the Department of Homeland Security's performance and make watchdog recommendations to improve the department. http://1.usa.gov/
The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing to discuss the Supplemental Assistance Program, better known as food stamps.http://1.usa.gov/
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing to discuss the impact EPA air and water regulations will have on states and the American people. http://1.usa.gov/
The Transportation Department will meet to discuss minimum training requirements for entry-level drivers of commercial motor vehicles.http://bit.ly/1FXQZy3
TOMORROW'S REGS TODAY
The Obama administration will publish 197 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Thursday's edition of the Federal Register.
--The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will propose reducing the reporting requirements for credit card companies.
Credit card companies are currently required to send their offers to the CFPB for review, but the agency says it is looking to temporarily suspend this requirement.
The CFPB is developing an electronic submission system that will make it easier for credit card companies to comply with the regulation. The requirement would be reintroduced in one year once the new system is ready.
Meanwhile, credit card companies would continue posting their offers online.
The public has 15 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1ALAmkI
--The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) will clarify disclosure rules for member banks.
Farm Credit System banks will still be required to disclose the compensation of senior officers to shareholders and investors, but the new rules clarify they do not have to report the compensation of other employees.
The new rules go into effect in 30 days. http://bit.ly/1LILnIf
--The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will look into developing new health and safety standards to protect underground coal miners.
The MSHA will request information about mine ventilation, atmospheric monitoring systems, and roof control plans, among other things, and the results could lead to future rulemaking.
The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1wpwsiP
--The Department of Defense (DOD) will propose a new rule prohibiting the military from purchasing American flags that are manufactured outside the country.
The Defense Acquisition Regulations System is pushing the rule in accordance with congressional requirements from the DOD's appropriations bill.
However, the rule will not apply to flagpoles and other components used to hang a flag, the DOD noted.
The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1As7IpK
--The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will propose loosening the export requirements for American farmers shipping livestock overseas.
The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will propose eliminating export requirements for health certifications, tests, and treatments. Instead, American farmers would be advised to follow the import rules of the countries they are shipping to.
The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/17YUUf5
NEWS RIGHT NOW
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to be siding with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) during oral arguments in a workplace discrimination case that could help define religious freedoms at work. http://bit.ly/1wpz6VV
Republicans are trying to block financial adviser regulation with legislation introduced Wednesday. http://
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) refuses to back down from the city's plan to legalize the recreational use of marijuana on Thursday despite Republican threats. http://bit.ly/1EsTFSs
Proponents of net neutrality may be overstating the harm of paid prioritization, and under-appreciating how differently Internet service has evolved from traditional regulated monopolies, the Wall Street Journal reported. http://on.wsj.com/1ali4y1
The Secret Service announced plans to conduct drone exercises in the Washington, D.C. area, The Washington Post reported.http://wapo.st/1MSk93B
House Republicans are working to reform the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, best known as food stamps, the Huffington Post reported. http://huff.to/1LEL6UP
BY THE NUMBERS
21: The minimum age a person has to be to legally smoke marijuana in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
2 oz: The amount of marijuana adults can lawfully possess in D.C. starting at 12:01 a.m.
6: The number of marijuana plants a resident of D.C. can have growing in their home at one time.
3: How many pot plants that can be matured in a D.C. residence at one time.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"I didn't come here to be the city council for the District of Columbia. D.C. should make its laws and its rules and regulations based on the people in the District of Columbia in the same way that we do in the state of Connecticut," Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said when asked about GOP threats to jail the D.C. mayor for going forward with plans to legalize marijuana.
We’ll work to stay on top of these and other stories throughout the week, so check The Hill’s Regulation page (http://thehill.com/regulation
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