On Jan. 26, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) solicited public input to inform two new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) programs creating standards and labeling for construction materials that have “substantially lower levels of embodied greenhouse gas emissions.” Section 60112 of the IRA appropriates $250 million for grants and technical assistance to manufacturers, States, Indian…

The split party control in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives will require bipartisanship to produce successful legislation over the next two years. While negotiations surrounding high-profile issues like increasing the debt limit and passing individual appropriations bills will receive much attention in the months ahead, here are 10 other issues worth watching where…

As Congress returns to session next week following the midterm elections, it will attempt to pass an enormous amount of pending legislation with only four to six weeks of session remaining. Here is a list of “must pass” measures, significant expiring programs, and other major legislation that may be considered.

Must Pass

  • Defense Authorization.
…

House Stablecoin Legislation

In late July the House Financial Services Committee made tentative plans to consider legislation to regulate stablecoins and require the Federal Reserve to study development of a central bank digital currency. A draft proposal reportedly had the bipartisan support of Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and ranking Republican Patrick McHenry (R-NC). However, last…

Congress has been working for several months on “China competitiveness” legislation, which may turn out to be the most far-reaching legislation of 2022. On February 17th, the House-passed “America COMPETES Act” (“COMPETES”) was officially received in the Senate, which may clear the way to begin a formal “conference committee” to resolve differences between that bill…

Under traditional U.S. Senate rules, unless every senator agrees otherwise it can take 60 votes to invoke “cloture” and limit further debate. However, the Senate has established several exceptions. In 2021, the Senate conducted 528 roll call votes. More than 80% of Senate votes (434) were in categories that are considered “exceptions” to the traditional …