Situational Awareness
Both the Senate and House of Representatives return to Washington, D.C. next Monday, Sept. 9 for three weeks to complete work on a short-term spending measure that will fund the federal government for an undetermined amount of time to avert a government shutdown. The tight schedule accounts for a month-long recess in October to accommodate members’ election campaigns.
With both chambers in session, leadership in the House of Representatives and Senate will continue working to advance their respective FY 2025 appropriations legislation. Before departing for nearly six weeks, the House passed five of the 12 spending bills—which were partisan in nature—despite a self-imposed deadline to get all bills approved by the full chamber ahead of the August recess. The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced 11 of its 12 FY 2025 appropriations bills by wide bipartisan margins, but none were brought to the Senate floor for a vote. NCA is monitoring language related to supplementary H-2B visas included in both the House and Senate FY 25 Homeland Security spending bills.
Lawmakers must also pass legislation that would reauthorize programs under the Farm Bill, which are set to expire at the end of the fiscal year. There is a strong likelihood that a second short-term extension for the Farm Bill will be necessary. Next week, lawmakers in the House are expected to consider various anti-China measures, including legislation targeting the Chinese supply chain for electric vehicles and other critical technologies.
OSHA Opens Comment Period for Proposed Heat Rule
On Friday, August 30, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published its proposed rule on “Heat Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” available to the public on the Federal Register. Interested parties will have 120 days to comment on the rule. The text of the rule is available here. More information on the proposal, including a fact sheet, can be found on OSHA’s website and NCA’s issue backgrounder.
Under the proposed rule, OSHA is proposing an initial heat trigger at a heat index of 80 degrees Fahrenheit and a high heat trigger of 90 degrees Fahrenheit for when employers must implement measures to protect their workers. Under the HIIPP, workers exposed to these temperatures would have to be provided access to drinking water and break areas with either artificial and/or natural shade and air conditioning. Employers would also be required to implement acclimatization plans for new or returning employees who haven’t yet adjusted to the heat, such as with gradual increases in workload or 15-minute rest breaks every two hours.
Biden Administration Prepares to Finalize New China Tariffs
Last week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that it’s preparing to make a final determination on modifications to U.S. tariffs on goods imported from China public—referred to as Section 301 tariffs—in the coming days. The final determination on whether to increase tariffs could cover the following Chinese-made goods and related supply chains: electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors, solar panel components, steel and aluminum. Some domestic manufacturers in the U.S. have pushed for eased trade restrictions to allow for time needed to fully decouple from Chinese suppliers.
Webcast Foursome: AI for Finance, Club Safety, Capital Projects, 2024 Election
NCA will host four upcoming webcasts covering critical club topics, including:
- Thurs., Sept. 12 | 2 pm ET. Unlock the Potential of Your Back-office Staff: Using AI to Transform the Finance Function. Register Here.
- Thurs., Sept. 19 | 2 pm ET. Revamping Safety: A Practical Guide for Clubs. Register Here.
- Thurs., Sept. 26 | 2 pm ET. Capital Improvements & Club Renovation Projects: The GM’s Experience. Register Here.
- Thurs., Oct. 3 | 2 pm ET. 2024 Election Briefing: Likely Outcomes and Impact on the Agenda. Register Here.
Webcasts are free for NCA members. Register for upcoming webcasts and watch previous presentations here.