Overnight Regulation: Labor Department proposes sick day rule

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Wednesday evening here in Washington and we’re not that excited to walk home in the heavy storms forecasters predict will hit D.C. Stay dry, everyone. Here’s the latest.

 

THE BIG STORY

The Department of Labor (DOL) on Tuesday proposed a rule that will require federal contractors to give their workers paid sick leave more than six months after President Obama issued an executive order requiring it to do so. 

{mosads}Under the president’s order, DOL is required to issue regulations by Sept. 30, 2016 requiring certain companies that contract with the federal government to provide employees with up to seven days of paid sick leave annually. The proposed rule would allow employees to use those sick days to care for themselves or a family member.

The public will have 30 days to submit comments.

In a statement, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said the proposed rule is great news for over 800,000 America workers and their families. 

“Not only is it in the best interest of employees to take care of themselves and their families, it benefits their colleagues and employers as well,” she said. “Congress should follow the president’s lead and pass the Healthy Families Act to guarantee job-protected sick days for every American employee.”

DeLauro’s legislation, introduced with Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) would allow all employees to earn up to seven sick days a year.

In a blog post Wednesday, Labor Secretary Tom Perez said offering paid sick leave isn’t just the right thing to do for working families, it’s essential to the country’s economic health. 

“I’m looking forward to a day when working moms and dads can afford to stay home with their sick kids, when a younger worker can take paid sick leave to care for an ailing grandparent and a husband can use his earned sick time to care for his wife – all without fear of losing a day’s pay or their livelihood,” he said.

 

ON TAP FOR THURSDAY

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing on the changes to the U.S. patent system and the impact it’s had on small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/1QfjOu8

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing to discuss reauthorizing the Transportation Department’s Pipeline Safety Program. http://1.usa.gov/1KHofxF

The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing to discuss issues raised by recent audits of defense contracting. http://1.usa.gov/1OvucZm

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing on the changes to the U.S. patent system and the impact it’s had on small businesses. http://1.usa.gov/1QfjOu8

And one delay: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee had to postpone its Thursday markup on Sen. Pat Roberts’s (R-Kan.) legislation to block states from issuing mandatory GMO labeling laws. The meeting will be rescheduled for sometime next week. http://1.usa.gov/1KLB6Pq

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 237 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register.

–The Department of Labor (DOL) will formally propose paid sick leave regulations.

The paid sick leave regulations stem from an executive order President Obama issued last September. They would require federal contractors — but not private employers — to provide employees with up to seven days of paid sick leave, which could also be used to care for family members.

The Labor Department says the paid sick leave regulations would “improve the health and performance” of federal contractor employees and “bring their benefits packages in line with model employers.”

The public has 30 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1Um9tyx

–The Department of Justice (DOJ) will examine cases where police officers are killed or assaulted.

The Justice Department will issue an information collected request, which would allow it to gather the data.

The information collection request would apply to more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the country.

The public has 60 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1SV1Ork

–The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is moving forward with an insider threat program to safeguard classified information.

The NRC will issue a policy statement on the insider threat program. The purpose is to “improve the security of classified networks” and “detect insiders who pose a risk.”

The policy statement goes into effect immediately. http://bit.ly/1SV1TeH

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW

Senate GOP exceeding powers with court blockage, some experts say. http://bit.ly/20VldHV

Kirk would meet with Obama SCOTUS nominee. http://bit.ly/1oI4M6h

Gun ban sought for people convicted of hate crimes. http://bit.ly/1Qf3xWa

Nevada joins states fighting Obama’s climate rule. http://bit.ly/1mYji86

Amtrak protests move to prioritize freight trains. http://bit.ly/24pPX8H

Dem senators push Takata to expand air bag recall. http://bit.ly/1WJv3vB

 

BY THE NUMBERS 

1.3 million: Signatures on a petition delivered to the White House on Wednesday demanding a fair hearing and an up-or-down vote on President Obama’s next Supreme Court nominee. 

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“If you threaten a black family because of their race, you shouldn’t be allowed to buy a gun. If you paint a swastika on the door of a synagogue, you should be allowed to buy a gun. If you beat a gay person because they’re gay, you shouldn’t be allowed to buy a gun,” — Rep. David Cicilline. Legislation from the Rhode Island Democrat would ban any person convicted of a hate crime from purchasing a gun.

 

We’ll work to stay on top of these and other stories throughout the week, so check The Hill’s Regulation page (http://digital-staging.thehill.com/regulation) early and often for the latest. And send any comments, complaints or regulatory news tips our way, tdevaney@digital-staging.thehill.com or lwheeler@digital-staging.thehill.com. And follow us at @timdevaney and @wheelerlydia.

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