01.25.2022 Poligage Top of Mind Report
By Poligage
January 25, 2022
Jon DeuserPresident & CEO, The Smith-Free Group Democrats are still moving the stages of (legislative) grief dealing with the collapse of the Build Back Better package. President Biden’s press conference last week indicated he might have reached “acceptance”, but others on the Hill are still mired in anger, denial or depression. For instance, we saw how some on the political left balked over the president discussed passing “chunks” of the BBB, obsessing over a simple word. Because congressional Democrats were so invested in BBB, until they are able to move on, perhaps to a slimmed down package or a piecemeal approach, their emotions will hang over (and hinder) other legislative efforts on the Hill. What’s Next for Biden’s Social Spending Plan |
Juanita DugganFounder, CLARIFYD More than a baker’s dozen of federal agencies and congressional committees are considering digital asset regulation. In this must-read WSJ article, Makan Delrahim, former Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, writes insightfully about the role of competition policy in regulating crypto currency and the blockchain. Regulation Will Be Good for Crypto |
Katie HarbathFounder & CEO, Anchor Change It’s practically a given that potential regulation of tech companies will remain a dominant issue in 2022 around the world – both in terms of actual regulation and as a key campaign issue for candidates up for election. It is important to keep an eye on how regulation in the states and other countries can impact what is happening in Congress. The more fragmented the regulations are the more we’ll likely see platforms just shut down efforts/products altogether, change their products for everyone based on one region’s laws (ie, like how Facebook instituted GDPR across all its users), or entrench only those platforms who have the resources to comply. 2022: The Regulatory Road Ahead |
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Ken KiesManaging Director, Federal Policy Group Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Biden administration is aiming to boost U.S. economic capacity by focusing on issues like labor supply and public infrastructure, an approach she called “modern supply-side economics.” The administration’s approach is a departure from traditional supply-side economics, which seeks to promote economic growth through tax cuts and deregulation,” Ms. Yellen said in a speech Friday to the World Economic Forum. Janet Yellen Views Biden Policies as Modernized Supply-Side Economics |
Julie DunnePresident, Dunne Strategic Solutions, LLC Under existing U.S. law, there is a prohibition on importing goods to the United States made with forced labor (19 U.S.C. 1307). On December 23, 2021, the President signed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) (P.L.117-78). The law establishes a rebuttable presumption that any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region benefit from forced labor and may not be imported. The new law directs the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force to issue a federal register notice to solicit comments to inform implementation of the new law. The federal register notice is expected to be published on January 24, 2022. There is a related provision impacting DOD government contractors in the National Defense Authorization Act. Companies Prepare for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) |
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Nancy BeckDirector of Regulatory Science, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP On December 29, the chemicals program at EPA closed out 2021 by proposing revisions to its risk determinations for the Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD), a solvent used as a flame retardant and wetting agent which has not been manufactured in the United States in nearly five years. The draft “revisions” represent a significant shift from EPA’s prior approach to existing chemical risk evaluation and foreshadow increased regulatory and litigation risk for all companies—not just those whose operations may have historically involved HBCD. Why EPA’s Announcement About a Chemical No Longer Manufactured is Big News for Your Business |
Ryan MacFarlaneDirector, Crowell Moring International Despite challenges, key developments in vaccine research and commitment to improve healthcare by a range of stakeholders foreshadow continued innovation and public health impact in 2022, highlighted by the following:
Global Health: What’s Ahead for 2022 |
Gareth ElliottPartner, Sacramento Advocates The $286.4-billion spending plan Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled this month builds on the state’s recent efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, homelessness and a worsening drought while surpassing K-12 school funding records set just last year. In all, the governor’s plan lays out close to $10 billion in new spending on what a fact sheet from his office calls “five of California’s biggest challenges: COVID-19, climate change, homelessness, inequality, and keeping our streets safe.” COVID-19, Children, Climate Change are Focal Points in Newsom’s Budget Plan CLICK HERE TO REQUEST A CONSULTATION WITH GARETH ELLIOTT |