Overnight Regulation: Spending bill blocking EPA rules advances in House

Welcome to Overnight Regulation, your daily rundown of news from Capitol Hill and beyond. It’s Wednesday evening here in Washington, where Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) is leading a filibuster on the Senate floor to push for gun control after the Orlando shooting.

Here’s the latest. http://bit.ly/23c7KOT

  

THE BIG STORY 

House lawmakers have advanced a spending bill for environmental programs laden with policy riders to block controversial rules from the Environmental Protection Agency. 

The Hill’s Devin Henry reports that the bill cuts $164 million from the EPA and prohibits the agency from setting carbon limits on power plants, protecting streams from coal mining waste, regulating methane emissions and defining bodies of water. 

{mosads}The Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment on Wednesday blocking a rule on offshore oil drilling, among others, and it rejected Democratic efforts to pull back the riders. 

“The EPA’s regulatory agenda is not working, certainly not for coal mining communities, American businesses and industries, or for hard-working Americans who rely on having good jobs and reasonable energy bills to take care of their families,” said Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), the chairman of the Appropriations Committee.

The full bill is $1 billion less than what President Obama requested in his budget. It bumps funding for clean water and drinking water state grant programs, directs the U.S. Forest Service to spend up to half its funding on wildfire prevention and suppression and cuts funding for the Fish and Wildlife Service. 

The bill was sent to the floor on a 31-18 vote. For Devin’s full report, click here.

 

ON TAP FOR THURSDAY 

The Supreme Court is expected to issue opinions in decided cases. 

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing to discuss how to create jobs under the National Labor Relations Board’s new joint employer rule. http://1.usa.gov/21cAjtH

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing to discuss inadequate safeguards on firearms. http://1.usa.gov/1UzAB9w

 

TOMORROW’S REGS TODAY

The Obama administration will publish 153 new regulations, proposed rules, notices and other administrative actions in Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register.

–The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will issue new guidelines for importing food.

The guidance is “intended to help the food industry and others comply with prior notice requirements,” the FDA writes.

The public can comment at any time.

–The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) will propose new rules for interest rate swaps.

The CFTC is looking to issue a new clearing requirement for certain interest rate swaps.

The public has 30 days to comment.

–The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will consider allowing dozens of truck drivers with vision problems to get behind the wheel.

The agency is reviewing applications from 37 truck drivers who want to be exempted from federal vision requirements they do not meet in one eye. If granted, this would allow them to operate commercial motor vehicles between states.

The agency will also exempt 124 truck drivers who suffer from insulin-treated diabetes mellitus from rules that would otherwise prohibit them from operating commercial motor vehicles between states.

The FMCSA says it only grants exemptions to drivers who can operate a truck just as safely as those who have passed the federal requirements.

 

NEWS RIGHT NOW

With last minute regulations, FCC has its eye on the clock. http://bit.ly/1UjxqW2

NRA ‘happy’ to meet with Trump, but not changing position. http://bit.ly/1Ys5Ybq

Doctors group calls for background checks on all gun buyers. http://bit.ly/1ZRXDN7

Advocates: School meal budgets could lose millions under GOP plan. http://bit.ly/25Yf9qa

Senate Dems: Chamber board opposes own lobbying. http://bit.ly/1Ys5AtA

Study: Complying with IRS paperwork will cost $409B. http://bit.ly/1VZSIdL

White House urges states to resist ObamaCare hikes http://bit.ly/21n8y1Q

House panel advances long-delayed mental health bill http://bit.ly/21n8uyT

House committee votes to censure IRS chief http://bit.ly/1VZW6oX

 

BY THE NUMBERS

8.9B: Hours people will spend complying with IRS paperwork this year.

$409B: Cost of the lost productivity for time spent on IRS paperwork.

(Source: A study released Wednesday by the Tax Foundation.) http://bit.ly/1VZSIdL

 

TWEET OF THE DAY 

“I am prepared to stand on the Senate floor and talk about the need to prevent gun violence for as long as I can. I’ve had #Enough,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted before he launched a talking filibuster to force action on legislation to keep suspected terrorists from being able to buy guns. http://bit.ly/23c7KOT

 

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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