Category: Federal
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U.S. Senate approves resolution to reverse Trump-era methane rule and restore standards set by Obama administration
The U.S. Senate passed a resolution under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) on April 28 to block a rule made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Sept. 2020. The final vote was 52-42, with three Republicans, Susan Collins (Maine), Lindsay Graham (S.C.), and Rob Portman (Ohio), voting in favor of the resolution. 49 Democrats…
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Federal Register weekly update: New significant proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Federal Register is a daily journal of federal government activity that includes presidential documents, proposed and final rules, and public notices. It is a common measure of an administration’s overall regulatory activity, accounting for both regulatory and deregulatory actions. From April 26 through April 30, the Federal Register grew by 1,320 pages for a…
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OIRA reviewed 22 significant rules in April
The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) reviewed a total of 22 significant regulatory actions issued by federal agencies in April 2021. The agency approved no rules without changes and approved the intent of 20 rules while recommending changes to their content. Two rules were subject to a statutory or judicial deadline.…
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Illinois’ U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos announces she’s not running for re-election in 2022
U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced on April 30 that she would not run for re-election in 2022. Bustos was first elected to the U.S. House to represent Illinois’ 17th Congressional District in 2012. She most recently won re-election in 2020, defeating Esther Joy King (R), 52% to 48%. As of April 30, eight members…
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Two Republicans advance to runoff for Texas’ 6th Congressional District
Susan Wright (R) and Jake Ellzey (R) advanced to a runoff from a 23-candidate field in the special election to fill the vacancy in Texas’ 6th Congressional District on May 1, 2021. Since both candidates in the runoff are Republicans, the seat will not change party hands as a result of this election. As of…
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President Biden nominates three additional individuals to Article III judgeships
President Joe Biden (D) nominated three individuals to Article III judgeships on April 29. With the addition of these three, Biden has nominated a total of 13 individuals to Article III judgeships since the start of his term. At the time of this writing, none of Biden’s Article III nominees have been confirmed by the…
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SCOTUS issues opinions
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued opinions in two cases this week. One case, Niz-Chavez v. Garland, was argued before the court on Nov. 9. The case Alaska v. Wright was decided without argument. Alaska v. Wright originated from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. In 2009, Sean Wright…
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SCOTUS concludes April sitting
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) concluded its April sitting for its 2020-2021 term on April 28. This sitting ran from April 19 through April 28, during which time the court heard 12 hours of oral argument. The cases argued before SCOTUS during its April sitting included: • April 19: Yellen v. Confederated…
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Biden’s first 100 days in office
April 30 marks the 100th day of President Joe Biden’s (D) presidency. Here is a round-up of where his administration stands so far. Executive actions Biden has issued 42 executive orders, 14 presidential memoranda, 49 proclamations, and 10 notices. Biden’s 42 executive orders are the most from a first-term president in his first 100 days in office…