David Fialkov
Appeals Court Removes OSHA ETS Stay; Travel Centers Should Prepare to Comply
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit on Dec. 17 dissolved the 5th Circuit’s stay of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA’s”) Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”), which imposes […]
Federal Court Invalidates E15 RVP Waiver
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled July 2 that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not have statutory authority to authorize year-round sales of E15 across the United States. […]
House Passes COVID-19 Relief Plan
The House of Representatives late Friday night approved 219-212 a budget reconciliation bill reflecting President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan, sending the bill to the Senate for consideration. The legislation would provide direct payments, a child tax credit expansion in the form of direct payments, extended unemployment benefits, COBRA subsidies and ACA tax credit enhancements, state & local funding, among other provisions.
Congress Passes Key Step to Allow Democrats to Pass COVID Relief
A COVID relief bill is set to move through Congress over the next month or so, possibly with only the support of Democrats. The Senate on Feb. 5 approved the FY2021 budget resolution after an overnight session, unlocking the “budget reconciliation” process for President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan. The House passed the Senate version and plans to begin writing the reconciliation legislation in the coming weeks, subject to some constraints under reconciliation. Democrats hope to have the legislation enacted before the mid-March expiration of pandemic unemployment programs.
Congress Continues to Negotiate COVID Relief, Spending Bill
This will be one of the most consequential weeks of the year for Congress. Government funding expires on December 18 following a one-week extension, so lawmakers are working toward a deal to fund the government for either the rest of the fiscal year (which ends in September) or until sometime in the first quarter of 2021.
COVID Relief Talks: Where Negotiations Stand
Lawmakers had paused negotiations on a COVID relief / stimulus bill until after the election, and Senate Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) is now set to take a more active role in the talks. There is general agreement that something could pass between now and March, though the disagreements that plagued previous efforts persist. If the virus continues spiraling, it increases the odds of a stimulus bill in the near-term.
NATSO 2020 ELECTION PREVIEW: What NATSO’s Government Affairs Team Will Be Watching
EPA Issues Final Rule Streamlining, Consolidating Existing Gas and Diesel Fuel Programs
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that would streamline and consolidate a number of fuel regulations. While much of the final rule is only marginally relevant in practice, the regulation fundamentally alters the RFG /RVP regulatory regime.
President Halts Stimulus Talks
President Trump announced on Twitter Oct. 6 that he is ending negotiations with congressional Democrats over a new economic aid package to respond to the Coronavirus until after Election Day.
California Gov. Issues Executive Order Banning Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) Vehicles Sales
California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently issued an executive order setting a goal to ban the sale of new gasoline powered vehicles by 2035, and a goal of requiring medium- and heavy-duty trucks to be zero emission by 2045 “where feasible.”