Prism Group's Daily Summary
HOUSE TAX ACTION COULD IMPACT FATE OF BIPARTISAN PACKAGE… The House is scheduled to vote today on a series of disaster relief measures which provide support to those affected by natural disasters in California and Florida, and the train derailment in Ohio. This kind of narrowly-targeted relief is not uncommon to see; the difference here is that these provisions were included in the bipartisan relief bill that’s currently stalled in the Senate. The decision to peel these provisions off the broader package suggests a growing bearishness among House members when it comes to Senate passage.
5 REASONS WHY SMALL BUSINESSES ARE EMBRACING ‘SHRINKFLATION’... Small businesses are under pressure to stay profitable without raising prices, and they often lack the scale, leverage, and pricing power that big corporations have to charge more. Here are five ways that small businesses are making their way through complex economic times.
WAGE & HOUR DIVISION RELEASES AI FIELD ASSISTANCE BULLETIN… The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has released a Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) outlining compliance to the Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) when utilizing AI. WHD and the FAB both emphasize that statutory principles apply as usual, but address some compliance challenges as AI continues to be widely adopted.
THE STATE OF THE STATES
SESSIONS BY THE NUMBERS:
Fifteen state legislatures are in regular session.
WHAT WE'RE WATCHING:
On May 16, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly (D) signed the Omnibus Budget into law. The bill allocates significant funding for innovation efforts in the Sunflower State, including workforce development, water infrastructure, and mental health services.
A California legislative committee has directed the State Auditor’s Office to evaluate state telework policies, following concerns from state workers about a return-to-office mandate. Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R) made note of the potential productivity, cost savings, and environmental benefits of telework in his audit request; the request comes amid opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom's (D) two-day in-office requirement.
LAWMAKERS... IN OR OUT?
The House... convenes today at 12:00 PM ET. The full schedule may be found here.
The Senate... convenes today at 10:00 AM ET. The full schedule may be found here.
HAPPENING ON THE HILL
The House...
Committee on Financial Services will hold a hearing Wednesday, 5/22 at 10:00 AM on “PHA Oversight: How Scandals and Mismanagement Harm Residents and Taxpayers.”
Committee on Energy and Commerce's Communications and Technology Subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday, 5/22 at 10:00 AM on “Legislative Proposal to Sunset Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.”
Committee on Energy and Commerce's Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday, 5/22 at 10:30 AM on “Check Up: Examining FDA Regulation of Drugs, Biologics, and Devices."
Committee on Energy and Commerce's Energy, Climate, and Grid Subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday, 5/22 at 2:00 PM on “Green Building Policies: Jeopardizing the American Dream of Homeownership.”
Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing Wednesday, 5/22 at 10:00 AM on “Nutritious Foods in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).”
Committee on Ways and Means' Health Subcommittee will hold a hearing Thursday, 5/23 at 9:00 AM on “The Collapse of Private Practice: Examining the Challenges Facing Independent Medicine.”
Committee on Small Business will hold a hearing Wednesday, 5/22 at 10:00 AM on “Burdensome Regulations: Examining the Biden Administrations Failure to Consider Small Businesses.”
The Senate...
Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing TODAY, 5/21 at 10:00 AM on “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market."
Committee on Judiciary will hold a hearing TODAY, 5/21 at 2:30 PM on “An Examination of Prison Labor in America."
Committee on Finance's Subcommittee will hold a hearing TODAY, 5/21 at 2:30 PM on “Examining Trade Enforcement and Entry of Merchandise at U.S. Ports."
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship will hold a hearing on Wednesday, 5/22 at TBD on “Business Meeting to consider pending business of the committee.”
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs' Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Wednesday, 5/22 at 2:30 PM on “Protecting Consumers Pocketbooks: Lowering Food Prices and Combatting Corporate Price Gouging and Consolidation.”
Committee on HELP will hold a hearing on Wednesday, 5/22 at 2:30 PM on “Digging Deeper for Health and Safety: Examining New Standards and Practices in Mining.”
Committee on HELP will hold a hearing on Thursday, 5/23 at 10:00 AM on “S. 3679, S. 3765, S. 4351, S. 3775, S. 4325, S. 3757, S. 4045 and Nomination.”
BILLS OF INTEREST
Check back tomorrow for possible updates.
AT THE AGENCIES
The U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor announced findings that three La Mojarra Loca restaurant locations in Las Vegas violated the Fair Labor Standards Act for overtime rates for workers.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury
Check back tomorrow for possible updates.
The U.S. Department of Commerce
Check back tomorrow for possible updates.
The U.S. Trade Representative
The U.S. Trade Representative's office released a statement from U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai commemorating World Trade Week.
The U.S. Small Business Administration
Check back tomorrow for possible updates.
Curious for more information?
Subscribe to EIW Today to receive the morning newsletter directly in your own inbox!
Comments