Overnight Regulation: Dems push feds on overtime rule

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Monday evening here in Washington. Happy Leap Day! Here’s the latest.

 

THE BIG STORY

Senate Democrats are urging the Obama administration to move forward with new overtime protections for millions of workers.

The Labor Department proposed the overtime protections in June 2015, but has yet to finalize the rules. As proposed, the rules would raise pay for some 5 million low-wage employees when they work more than 40 hours in a week. http://bit.ly/1GRwgas

Any worker making up to $50,440 a year would qualify for overtime pay under the new rules.

{mosads}Currently, workers making more than $23,660 do not qualify for overtime pay.

This could restore overtime pay for millions of workers and create $1.4 billion in wages, the senators claim.

“As the costs of education, childcare, and retirement have steadily risen, Americans need these protections so that they can build a better future for themselves and their families,” the senators wrote in a letter to Labor Secretary Thomas Perez. “We respectfully request that you issue a final rule as soon as possible.” http://1.usa.gov/21Ebs3d

The letter was signed by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and nearly two-dozen other Senate Democrats.

 

ON TAP FOR TUESDAY

The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee will have a business meeting to mark up a bill that would prevent states from issuing mandatory labeling laws on genetically modified foods. http://1.usa.gov/1Un8zBN

The Senate Finance committee will hold a hearing to examine the multiemployer pension plan system and discuss recent reforms and current challenges. http://1.usa.gov/1RteFOi

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing to examine pipeline safety reauthorization. http://1.usa.gov/1WSvMum

The House Judiciary Committee’s Executive Overreach Task Force will hold a hearing on Congress’s constitutional powers. http://1.usa.gov/1oTOTtA

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

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

–The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will move forward with a new program to transport former members of the military to and from VA hospitals.

The Veterans Transportation Service will transport veterans to military hospitals for “examination, treatment, and care,” the agency said.

The new rules provide eligibility guidelines and define the forms of transportation the VA would offer.

The program goes into effect in 30 days. http://bit.ly/1XW9Z6g

–The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will propose new rules for medical device technology.

The FDA would list blood establishment computer software under special controls, giving the agency a “reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness.”

The public has 90 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1QnZuXB

–The Interior Department will issue new burial rules for American Indians.

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs will give American Indians more time — 180 days — to apply for their loved ones to receive burial assistance. http://bit.ly/1TNfpRH

–The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will consider allowing truck drivers with diabetes to hit the road.

Truck drivers with diabetes are usually prohibited from operating commercial motor vehicles, but the FMCSA is considering applications from 91 truck drivers who say their medical condition is under control.

The public has 30 days to comment. http://bit.ly/1TM6mzf

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW 

Justice Thomas asks questions from bench for first time in 10 years http://bit.ly/1oTK97m

Supreme Court won’t review Chris Christie’s NJ pension cuts http://bit.ly/1RBftAL

SCOTUS won’t take up challenge to Chesapeake cleanup plan http://bit.ly/1QnXtuK

Study finds about half of Web traffic is encrypted http://bit.ly/1plV0Xt

Voters to face stricter ID requirements on Super Tuesday – The Washington Post http://wapo.st/1oK8agr

Women tell justices why they decided to have an abortion – The New York Times http://nyti.ms/1QhlD8E

Eighty-five percent of nail salons inspected broke law on pay records – The New York Times http://nyti.ms/1QnXUFk

Lockheed Martin to pay $5M in settlement over Kentucky plant: U.S. – Reuters http://reut.rs/216bDST

 

 BY THE NUMBERS

$50,440: Proposed annual cutoff to qualify for overtime pay. 

$23,660: Current annual cutoff to qualify for overtime pay.

 

TWEET OF THE DAY

“February 29 arrives once every 4 years. Big deal. You want rare? Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas spoke today,” tweeted Steve Burgess, an author from Canada @steveburgess1.

 

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.

Click here to sign up for the newsletter: http://bit.ly/1pc6tau