Tag Archives: Trump

What Does the Lame Duck Session of Congress Hold for US Federal Appropriations and COVID Negotiations?

Will former Vice President Joe Biden prevail in his quest to become president, or does President Trump once again defy conventional wisdom as he did in 2016?   Do Democrats attain majority status in both chambers of Congress, or will Republicans maintain a Senate firewall?   What lies ahead with regard to fiscal year 2021 … Continue Reading

Legal Cannabis and Hemp Get Spotlight in US Elections

Deemed essential during the coronavirus in every state with regulated cannabis in some form speaks volumes with how impactful this industry has become on a national level and how powerful it could be in the upcoming election. With eleven states and the District of Columbia that have legalized recreational cannabis or adult-use and 33 states … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade: US and Europe – Week of October 19, 2020

While COVID-19 infections continue to rise globally and transatlantic governments are responding accordingly, the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK) resumed negotiations over terms for its relationship, post Brexit.  Late last week, the EU’s investment screening regulation entered into force; the bloc continues to move forward in its process to approve an EU Global … Continue Reading

VIDEO: “What Happens After the Election?” An Analysis by Bipartisan Government Insiders

What is the fate of the next COVID relief bill, in a Trump or Biden Administration?  What would a change in the Senate majority mean under a Republican or Democratic administration? What is the outlook on the US economy, infrastructure development, tax reform and other critical issues in 2021 from a former Speaker of the … Continue Reading

Transatlantic Trade: US and European Trade Talk Update – October 3, 2020

Several high-level officials from the United States (US) were in Europe this past week, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.  Collectively, they focused on the Brexit talks, strengthening economic relations, 5G infrastructure, energy and transatlantic security, as well as Hizballah.  The United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) continued their discussions on Britain’s future … Continue Reading

FY 2018 Transportation Appropriations; Presidential Events on Infrastructure Initiative; President Appoints Deputy FAA Administrator

Legislative Activity Congress Begins Evaluating FY 2018 Transportation Appropriations This week, the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies will hold hearings on FY 2018 appropriations for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao will testify on Tuesday at the Senate Subcommittee hearing and on … Continue Reading

Department of Energy To Cut Energy Development Regulations; EPA Stays Landfill Rules; Senate To Consider Nominations for DOE, EPA, DOI and Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Regulatory Activity Department of Energy Cutting Energy Development Regulations This follows our earlier report highlighting the Trump Administration’s recent memo with specifics as to how the President expects agencies to carry out his previously issued energy Executive Order (EO) 13783 – “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth”. EO 13783 directs agencies to identify regulations that would … Continue Reading

President to Highlight Infrastructure Initiative This Week; FAA Reauthorization Update

Legislative Activity President to Highlight Infrastructure Initiative This Week President Trump will hold several events this week intended to increase support for his Infrastructure Initiative presumably by providing more details about the proposal. On Monday, the President will make an announcement at the White House with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) … Continue Reading

President’s Budget; FAA Reauthorization; Drone Registration Rule; GHG Rule; MPO Consolidation Rule

Legislative Activity President’s Budget Expected this Week President Trump is expected to release his FY 2018 budget this week, and transportation stakeholders are eager to see whether the full budget includes cuts to transportation programs with bipartisan Congressional support that were included in the President’s “Skinny Budget” released in March. In particular, the Skinny Budget … Continue Reading

President Trump Issues New Guidance Clarifying Energy Executive Order; EPA Moving on WOTUS and RFS

Executive Branch Activity New Guidance Clarifying Energy Executive Order Last week, just four days before federal agencies’ initial plans were due to OMB, the White House issued a memo updating with more specifics as to how President Trump expects agencies to carry out his previously issued energy executive order (Executive Order 13783, “Promoting Energy Independence and … Continue Reading

Infrastructure Week; Congress Continues to Examine Infrastructure Needs; FAA Reauthorization

Legislative Activity This Week is Infrastructure Week May 15 – 19 is Infrastructure Week, with numerous events being held in Washington D.C. and around the country in an effort to increase support for investing in the country’s infrastructure. Infrastructure Week’s kickoff event will be held the morning of Monday, May 15, at the U.S. Chamber … Continue Reading

EPA Plans Rewrite of WOTUS; House Contemplates Nuclear Waste Policy

Regulatory Activity WOTUS Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated its plans to solicit comments by June 19 as to how the agency should rewrite the “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule following President Trump’s February 28 executive order (EO) directing the agency to revise the contentious Obama Administration rule. Following the EO, EPA … Continue Reading

Mulvaney on Infrastructure Bill; Transportation Appropriations This Week

Legislative Activity Mulvaney: Infrastructure Bill Might Include $200 Billion in Direct Spending Last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney said that the Administration’s proposed FY 2018 budget could include $200 billion for infrastructure with the understanding that it would be leveraged at a 5-to-1 ratio to spur more than $1 … Continue Reading

Infrastructure Bill Could be Packaged with Tax Reform; Senate Commerce Committee to Consider Rosen’s Nomination to be DOT Deputy Secretary Soon; Many Members of Congress Seeking to Protect New Starts Funding; House and Senate Committees to Hold FAA Hearings

Legislative Activity Infrastructure Bill Could be Packaged with Tax Reform There has been considerable discussion on the Hill and in the Trump Administration about the prospects of combining a large-scale infrastructure bill with comprehensive tax reform. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin recently met with the Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans … Continue Reading

Administration Indicates Turn to Tax Reform after Healthcare Fails, Potentially Moving Up Focus on Infrastructure; Senate Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on Transportation Deputy Secretary Nominee

Legislative Activity Administration Indicates Turn to Tax Reform after Healthcare Fails, Potentially Moving Up Focus on Infrastructure The Trump Administration has indicated it will now turn to a comprehensive tax reform effort, as the House Republican’s healthcare reform proposal failed last week. The high-profile American Health Care Act (AHCA) failure showed starkly the divisions within … Continue Reading

President Releases “Skinny Budget”; Senate Commerce Committee to Hold Hearing on FAA Reauthorization

Legislative Activity President Releases “Skinny Budget” On March 16, the Administration released the President’s “Skinny Budget.” As is typical with a budget outline provided by a new President, the request is very high level and does not include nearly the detail of a full budget proposal. The Administration has said it will release its full … Continue Reading

Transportation Stakeholders Hopeful for More Information This Week; House Transportation Committee Holds Hearing on FAST Act Implementation; President Trump Will Nominate Jeffrey Rosen as DOT Deputy Secretary

Legislative Activity Transportation Stakeholders Hopeful for More Information This Week As the Trump Administration and Congress continue to develop a large-scale infrastructure proposal, transportation stakeholders are hopeful they will get additional information this week. The President’s ‘Skinny Budget” is expected to be released on Thursday, March 16. While it is unclear how much detail will … Continue Reading

WOTUS Changes on Horizon; House Hearing on Water Infrastructure; Senate Hearing on Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act

Executive Action Waters of the US On Tuesday, February 28, President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to revise or rescind the Obama Administration’s controversial “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule which defines the scope of the federal government’s regulatory … Continue Reading

Secretary Chao Discusses Infrastructure Priorities as Administration Begins to Release More Details; Appropriations Committees to Hold Hearings on THUD Issues; House Transportation Committee to Hold Third FAA Hearing

Legislative Activity Secretary Chao Discusses Infrastructure Priorities as Administration Begins to Release More Details As the Trump Administration and Congress continue to develop a large-scale infrastructure proposal, the Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary, Elaine Chao, discussed the Administration’s priorities. Speaking to the National Governors Association last week, Secretary Chao acknowledged challenges in passing the $1 … Continue Reading

President Trump Expected to Discuss Infrastructure in Coming Weeks; House Transportation Committee to Hold Second FAA Hearing, Focused on Airports

Legislative Activity President Trump Expected to Discuss Infrastructure in Coming Weeks The President is expected to release additional information on his infrastructure agenda in the coming weeks. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the President will discuss infrastructure in his address to Congress on Tuesday. Additionally, he noted that more information will be included … Continue Reading
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