Current Issues
Artificial Intelligence & Quantum Computing
Bias-related AI Oversight by Federal Agencies
Officials from four Federal agencies pledged (April 25) in a joint statement to use their authorities to protect the public against unlawful bias and discrimination ...
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Gas Prices
Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) - Refiling
The Department of Energy announced (December 16) that it plans to restart the purchasing of oil ...
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Consumer/Investor Protection
ESG Retirement Plan Fiduciary Rule
Congress passed legislation (March 2) to force nullification of a Labor Department rule finalized in November pertaining to the use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) actors in retirement plan investing ...
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Protecting Personal Information
FTC Action Against Meta/Facebook
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced (May 3) that it is proposing to modify a prior privacy order on Meta/Facebook, to prohibit the company ...
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Big Tech Concerns
FTC Action Against Meta/Facebook
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced (May 3) that it is proposing to modify a prior privacy order on Meta/Facebook, to prohibit the company ...
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Cryptocurrency Regulation
Treasury Report on Digital Asset Risk
The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) of the Treasury Department released a report on “Digital Asset Financial Stability Risks and Regulation.” The FSOC ...
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Travel & Airlines
Future Rule on Expenses for Stranded Passengers
The Department of Transportation announced (May 8) that it plans to start a process for a rule, without issuing an actual proposed rule, that will require airlines ...
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Research & Analysis
Crude Oil Windfall Profits Taxes
Congressional Research Service
This report (March 2022) summarizes the basis and options for so-called "windfall" profit taxes on major U.S. oil companies.
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Report on Digital Asset Financial Stability Risks and Regulation
Financial Stability Oversight Council
This report (October 2022) details the risks to consumers, the financial system, and the economy of digital assets and connected business practices given the current regulatory regime. The report focuses especially on the impact of stablecoin digital assets.
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FDA Evaluation of Infant Formula Response
Food & Drug Administration
This internal FDA report (September 2022) reviews how the FDA believes it handled its response to the 2022 infant formula crisis. The report details five areas of need in the FDA given its response: (1) modern information technology that allows for the access and exchange of data in real time to all the people involved in response; (2) sufficient staffing, training, equipment, and regulatory authorities; (3) updated emergency response systems that are capable of handling multiple public health emergencies occurring simultaneously; (4) increased scientific understanding about Cronobacter; and (4) assessment of the infant formula industry, its preventive controls, food safety culture and preparedness to respond to events.
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State Attorneys General on ESG Investing
State Attorneys General
This is a letter (August 4) signed by 19 state Attorney Generals to BlackRock, an investment firm, regarding the mangement of state pension funds and so-called Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing; specifically, ESG investing with a bias away from investments in the fossil fuels industries.
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Consumer Privacy: Changes to Legal Framework Needed to Address Gaps
General Accountability Office (GAO)
This GAO report assesses the legal framework underpinning current personal information protection laws, identifies known gaps, and recommends that Congress take action to develop a Federal privacy framework in law and regulation.
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The Problematic Potential Return of Net Neutrality
American Action Forum
This blog article describes why the return of net neutrality regulations revoked during the Trump Administration may not be a good idea.
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Net Neutrality - Wikipedia Page
Wikipedia
This Wikipedia website page details the background and status of Net Neutrality.
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Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury
Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy Committee on Oversight and Reform
This staff report (February 2021) of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform provides the findings from both research and internal company documents concerning the presence of heavy metals in baby food, and provides recommendations for change.
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Occurrence of PFAS in the Food Supply
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
This FDA report (June 2021) summarizes the findings of recent and past testing, and concludes that the FDA has so far not found significant levels of PFAS chemicals in the U.S food supply.
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The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Background, Authorities, and Considerations
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
This report (May 2020) provides key background information on the Strategic Petrolium Reserve (SPR) and summarizes a number of policy considerations including the release of amounts from the reserve to address high gasoline prices.
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Gasoline Tax
American Petroleum Institute
This website provides gasoline tax data for each U.S. state, as well as national averages.
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Key Federal Programs
Consumer Product Safety Commission [CPSC]
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$139,050,000
$195,500,000
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Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$50,000,000
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$381,950,000
$390,192,000
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Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$0
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
This Year (FY 22)
Budget Proposal (FY 23)
Enacted (FY 23)
% Change
$376,530,000
$490,000,000
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Supplementals (FY 21-22)
$30,400,000
