WASHINGTON ALERT
Stephanie Salmon, Artemis Strategies; Jeff Hannapel & Christian Richter, The Policy Group, Washington, D.C.
Regulatory and Red Tape Act Brought to U.S. House
A PACKAGE OF REGULATORY BILLS AWAITS APPROVAL BY THE U.S. HOUSE.
Te Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act was brought to the U.S. House of Representatives floor for consideration. Te act is a package of bills aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on manufacturers and businesses. Te measure would reform the
regulatory process by preventing any federal agency from taking a signifi- cant regulatory action until unem- ployment has reached 6% or less, improving transparency of sue and settle transactions that compel regula- tory action where it has been delayed, streamlining permitting for environ- mental projects, and auditing the Fed- eral Reserve. Te following bills were considered as part of the package: • Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAP- ID) Act of 2012: Permits stream- lining legislation.
• Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2012: Addresses sue and settle tactics used by agen- cies to initiate new regulations.
ON THE HILL
China Stockpiling Rare Earths According to a state-backed news-
paper, China has started stockpiling rare earths for strategic reserves. The China Securities Journal said China has started to purchase and store the materials us- ing state funds. Currently, the country produces more than 90% of the world’s materi- als, which are mainly used in high-tech products from iPods to missiles, as well as in metalcasting melt additives. According to the Journal, rare earths are currently priced low and account for the start of the strategic buying. China had previously announced intentions to begin building a reserve of rare earths, but did not announce a timeline of when they would begin.
18 | MODERN CASTING August 2012
The stockpile could lead to lower quantities available for export. This year, China has said companies can export 21,226 tons of the materials this year. Last year, the government granted 30,200 tons, and 18,600 tons were exported.
U.S. Committee Slashes EPA Funding
The U.S. House Appropriations Com- mittee approved in late June the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY2013) Interior and Environ- ment bill, which, as passed by the com- mittee, would provide $7.05 billion to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), $1.4 billion less than in 2012. The following key riders are of interest to the metalcasting industry: • EPA would be restricted from us- ing any FY2013 funds “to develop,
adopt, implement, administer, or enforce” its guidance “pertaining to the definition of waters under the jurisdiction” of the federal Clean Water Act.
• The bill would require the adminis- tration to provide a detailed report to Congress on all federal spending on climate change-related programs and activities in FY2012. Congress has not announced a date for when the legislation will be considered by the full House, and due to the contentious nature of the bill and environmental policy riders, the appropriations detailed in the bill may be rolled together with other appropriation measures in an omnibus bill later this year.
The U.S. House considered a pagackage of regulatory bills late in July.
• Midnight Rule Relief Act of 2012: Prohibits new rules between Elec- tion Day and inauguration.
• Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act of 2012: Prohibits new, economically signifi- cant rules until unemployment is below 6%.
• Unfunded Mandates Information and
Transparency Act of 2012: Provides Congress with information on the cost of unfunded mandates. AFS signed a coalition letter
along with other organizations urg- ing House members to support this package. Te House considered the package of bills late in July.
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