Friday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for measuring the efficiency ceiling fans, decreasing the wait times at VA hospitals and removing political contribution limits.
Here’s what is happening:
Efficiency: The Department of Energy is considering new efficiency standards for ceiling fans.
The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy proposed new testing requirements for ceiling fans Thursday. The agency is also looking to expand its authority to more ceiling fans that previously were not covered under the rules.
The testing requirements would measure the airflow and power consumption of ceiling fans running at low and high speeds.
The public has 75 days to comment.
Wait times: The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to minimize the wait times for veterans seeking a doctor’s appointment.
After the VA got into hot water earlier this year for making veterans wait months to get an appointment, the agency announced Thursday it is establishing new goals for speeding up the process.
Toads: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is reconsidering its plan to weaken the protections for a certain species of toad.
Arroyo toads are currently considered an endangered species, but the FWS proposed lowering the protections to threatened status in March.
However, the agency announced Thursday it is reopening the comment period to consider the latest scientific information.
The public has 30 days to comment and FWS plans to make a final decision by March 27, 2015.
Contribution limits: The Federal Election Commission is removing individual contribution limits for political donors.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling earlier this year that contribution limits were unconstitutional, the FEC is changing its rules to reflect that decision in McCutcheon v. FEC.
Political donors may now contribute to as much money as they want to federal candidates and political committees as opposed to previously being capped during each two-year election cycle.
The changes go into effect immediately.