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Federal Contractors Must Plan for Flood Risks from Climate Change, Per New Executive Order

On Jan. 30, President Obama released new Executive Order 13690, “The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS),” as directed by the President’s Climate Action Plan.  Notably, the order expands the definition of “floodplain” (higher flood elevation and expanded flood hazard areas) by creating a new national minimum standard that all federal agencies must use – and builders must follow – for all federally-approved or funded projects. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is soliciting public input on newly released “guidelines” that will instruct federal agencies on how to implement the new standard.

President Vetoes Keystone Bill

On Tuesday, President Obama vetoed a House- and Senate-passed bill approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The president claimed that the bill bypassed the State Department’s process of determining whether the project is in the national interest. According to the White House, once that determination is made, “there will not be a significant delay in announcing the results of that review and ultimately making a decision on the project.”

Majority of House Sends Bipartisan Transportation Letter to House Leaders

This week, a majority of the House sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) showing strong bipartisan support for passing a multiyear transportation reauthorization bill with a sustainable funding source.  The letter – which was signed by nearly 300 members of the House – also calls for an end to the numerous short-term extensions of transportation authorization.

Take Action: Stop the NLRB's “Ambush” Election Rule

Contact your member of Congress Today, Rule to Take Effect April 14 The National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) rule on representation-case procedures goes into effect on April 14, 2015. Known as the “quickie election” or “ambush election” rule, it would expedite the union representation election cycle to as few as 14 days from the union’s filing of a petition for an election. It is bad for both employers and employees. It would deny employers due process by limiting review of critical issues such as identifying the appropriate bargaining unit and voter eligibility potentially until after the vote is held. It would also limit workers’ access to information and provide inadequate time for workers to consider information about joining the union.

Senate Committee Hearing Addresses Tax Reform

On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to hear from economists and public policy professors on the context of comprehensive tax reform. Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) asked witnesses about integrating corporate and individual income taxes into a single level of taxation. Ranking Member Wyden (D-Ore.) focused his questions on simplifying tax paperwork and funding for infrastructure. Expert witness Laura Tyson, who served as head of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers, told the Finance panel that Congress should maintain accelerated depreciation, as well as others that “actually enhance new investments.”

OFCCP Creates LGBT Resources for Federal Contractors

In response to requests from federal and federally assisted contractors, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has created a directory of organizations and other entities that offer resources and guidance to employers around issues related to creating an inclusive workplace for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees.  The request came from employers wanting to better understand how to treat employees and job applicants without regard to their sexual orientation or gender identity following the publication of the Final Rule implementing Executive Order 13672.

Senate Committee Moves Forward on Tax Reform

On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee held a markup to approve 17 tax measures with a combined cost of about $312 million. Among the measures was a change to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act (FIRPTA). The legislation offered by Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) would increase the ownership stake that a foreign investor can take in a U.S. publicly traded real-estate investment trust (REIT) without triggering FIRPTA liability and extend the provision to certain collective investment vehicles. Specifically, it increases the FIRPTA exemption for “portfolio investors” in a U.S. publicly traded REIT from 5 to 10 percent for purposes of capital gains dividends and sales of REIT shares. The committee approved all the measures by a voice vote.