Archive for May 2024

This Week in Congress Last week, the Senate passed by an 88-4 vote on a five-year extension of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill, which provides funding for airport modernization, technology programs, and safety, and includes a number of consumer-protection provisions, such as fee-free family seating. Despite the objections of the D.C., Maryland, and…

ASA Advocates for Increasing the Highway Trust Fund This week on Capitol Hill, ASA, along with the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), carried the following message regarding the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) to members of Congress and their congressional staff.           The HTF, established in 1956 to fund the construction of…

ASA Prepares for Large Scale Tax Legislation in 2025 This week, ASA, and the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC), walked the halls of Congress advocating in advance of large scale tax legislation that will be forthcoming in 2025. To that end, we support the following provisions: the repeal of the Corporate Transparency Act or, at…

Congressional Review Act (CRA) Against OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Rule The Coalition for Workplace Safety (CWS) circulated a letter urging support for Rep. Miller’s Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution disproving of OSHA’s worker walkaround rule.  The worker walkaround rule allows third parties to accompany OSHA safety and health officers on an inspection of a workplace if an…

This Week in Congress With the May 10th deadline looming, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s reauthorization topped the Senate’s agenda this week. A short-term extension was considered as several members raised concerns about fast-tracking the bill if their amendments were not considered.  Rep. Lawler’s antisemitism bill is headed for the Senate, where it will face…

The FAA Reauthorization Senate leaders have told Senators that they do not intend to allow votes on any nongermane amendments to the bill, but Sens. Hawley (R-IN) and Vance (R-OH) have threatened to hold up an agreement to provide for quick consideration of the bill if leadership does not allow votes on their amendments. Hawley’s…

Generic Drug Shortage Senate Finance leaders unveiled draft legislation intended to ease the generic drug shortages. The draft introduced by Sens. Wyden (D-OR) and Crapo (R-ID) would create a voluntary program within Medicare to change the way health care providers buy generic drugs. Its goal is to get providers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to…

Easing Restrictions on Cannabis On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the U.S. Justice Department announced plans to recommend easing restrictions on marijuana, kicking off a lengthy rule-making process that would represent a major change in federal policy. The proposal, which still must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OBM), would recognize the medical…

Warehouse Worker Protection Act Members of Congress introduced the Warehouse Worker Protection Act, which includes several OSHA provisions. The Coalition for Workplace Safety (CWS) sent a letter to Congress urging them to reject the bill. The bill mandates that OSHA issue two new rulemakings. One would regulate ergonomics in warehouse distribution centers, a previous effort by OSHA…