The final labor contract with EPA’s largest staff union ends months of negotiations, including a tentative agreement in May that covered 13 topics but left two issues in dispute: grievance procedures and official time used by union representatives.
The wastewater utility group says at least $4 billion in emergency federal assistance as part of Congress’ next coronavirus response bill is necessary to address the needs of low-income customers.
The Government Accountability Office is urging the Defense Department to better consider climate risks in its supply chain, while also calling for improved data reporting on foreign assistance for climate adaptation.
The think tank Data for Progress’ list of suggested Cabinet picks under a potential Biden administration floats Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as candidates to be EPA chief.
The “minibus” bill including fiscal year 2021 appropriations for EPA boosts overall agency funding by 3 percent while also targeting several Trump administration environmental policies.
Seven GOP senators, including five running for re-election in November, call clean energy investments “fiscally prudent” because they would leverage private funding to boost job gains and economic growth.
House Democrats have approved policy riders to EPA’s fiscal year 2021 funding bill limiting the implementation of Trump administration environmental policies while creating new rules for emerging contaminants and boosting water infrastructure funds, signaling Democrats’ early priorities for EPA if Joe Biden wins the 2020 presidential election.
Russell Vought had been serving as acting chief of the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB) for more than the past year prior to his July 20 confirmation as permanent OMB director.
“The Committee expects the Agency to modify its SAB engagement process to comport with all legal requirements while improving the engagement process,” House appropriators told EPA.
