Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans

The White House issued Executive Order 14087 directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to consider whether to select for testing new health care payment and delivery models that would lower drug costs and promote access to innovative drug therapies for beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Within 90 days, the Secretary shall submit a report on its selected models and a plan and timeline for testing them.

Affordability of Family Health Coverage

The Internal Revenue Service issued final regulations amending eligibility for the premium tax credit to provide that affordability of employer-sponsored minimum essential coverage for family members of an employee is determined based on the employee's share of the cost of covering the employee and those family members, not the cost of covering only the employee. Effective December 12.

Reconsideration of Fugitive Emissions Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to repeal regulatory amendments adopted in 2008 under the Clean Air Act that addressed the consideration of “fugitive” emissions of air pollutants from stationary sources when determining the applicability of certain permitting requirements under the Act. Those amendments have been stayed as a result of the reconsideration process. Comments due December 13.

Lead Emissions From Aircraft Engines

EPA is proposing to find that lead air pollution may reasonably be anticipated to endanger the public health and welfare, and to find that aircraft engine emissions of lead contribute to lead air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare under section 231(a) of the Clean Air Act. Comments due January 17.

Rural eConnectivity Program

The Department of Agriculture is confirming a 2021 final rule that established eligibility requirements and application process for the Rural eConnectivity Program. The action also responds to public comments that addressed the broadband speed used to determine eligibility. The final rule is confirmed as of April 27, 2021.

Determining Employer's Withdrawal Liability

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is proposing to provide interest rate assumptions that may be used by a plan actuary in determining a withdrawing employer's liability under a multiemployer plan. Comments due November 14.

SBIC Investment Diversification and Growth

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is proposing to revise the regulations for the Small Business Investment Company program to significantly reduce barriers to program participation. The proposed rule will help SBA implement the EO “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.” Comments due December 19.

Nicholas Anthony: Biden’s Cryptocurrency Reports Highlight a Government Culture of Surveillance

Scott Wallsten: There’s Too Much Fiber in our Broadband Diet

Ed Bachrach & Austin Berg: The Importance of City Charters

Cate Lamb: Why Investors Now Want Companies to Disclose Plastic Pollution Risk

Rajeev Peshawaria: ESG: Will G Save Us From E and S Challenges?

Errol Schweizer: Why a Kroger/Albertsons Merger Is a Bad Idea

Randall Lutter: Why Congress Should Step in and Regulate the CDC

Marc Marie: Cosmetic Reforms in Manchin Permitting Bill aren’t Enough to Improve US Energy Woes

Michael O’Rielly: As America Approaches ‘Internet for All,’ Deep Caution for ‘Middle Mile’ Detour

Binyamin Appelbaum: It Shouldn’t Matter So Much Whether Elon Musk Buys Twitter

Alison Bateman-House: How to Make Experimental Treatment Less of a Gamble

Governance & Politics

• The Lawyer Who Could Deliver on Biden’s Wish to be the Most Pro-Union President, Washington Post
• The Regulators of Facebook, Google and Amazon Also Invest in the Companies’ Stocks, Wall Street Journal
• Federal Officials Trade Stock in Companies Their Agencies Oversee, Wall Street Journal
• Tech Woes Still Trouble OPM, Watchdog Says, Government Executive
• A Watchdog Says the Global Media Agency Lacks Clear and Consistent Policies to Ensure Editorial Independence, Government Executive
• State Privacy Agency Running Out the Clock on New Privacy Rules, LA Sentinel
• 24,000 Venezuelans Could Come to the US Under a New Policy. But What's Behind the New Regulations?, NPR
• Intelligence Agencies Must Transform Acquisition, Federal News Network

Financial Markets & Housing

• SEC's Gensler says CFTC Authority over Stablecoins Should be Bolstered, Reuters
• Texas Regulator Probes Crypto Platform FTX and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, Washington Post
• FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried Probed by Texas Securities Regulator, Bloomberg
• Celsius, The Trouble With Crypto, Forbes
• US SEC Aims to Help Shrink Hedge Fund Fees for Investors, Reuters
• Hickenlooper Calls for Crypto Securities Rules from SEC, The Hill
• New York Financial Regulator Wants to Lead on Crypto, Climate Change, Wall Street Journal
• Florida Fights Gainesville's Bid to End Single-Family Zoning, Bloomberg

Energy & Environment

• US Treasury Proposes Climate Data Collection Rule for Insurers, Reuters
• How Coal Companies Sidestep Mine Clean Up Obligations, Bloomberg
• The Next Frontier for Climate Action is the Great Indoors, Vox

Health & Safety

• USDA Plans Major Reforms to Curb Salmonella in Poultry, Government Executive
• Ban on Guns with Serial Numbers Removed is Unconstitutional - US Judge, Reuters
• Senate Bill Aims to Improve Care for Pregnant Women and Babies in Federal Prisons, Government Executive
• NC Clinics Want Nurses to Offer Medication-induced Abortions, Associated Press

Business & Technology

• Biden Administration’s Cyber Regulatory Plan Comes into Focus, Federal News Network
• Battle Over Wage Rules for Tipped Workers Is Heating Up, New York Times
• Chip Industry Braces for ‘Heavy Blow’ From China Export Curbs, Bloomberg
• ASML Orders US Employees to Stop Servicing Customers in China, Bloomberg
• Meta Forced to Sell Giphy After British Antitrust Order, New York Times

Transportation & Infrastructure

• Boeing 737 Max 7’s Approval Faces New Tests From US Regulators, Bloomberg