May 21, 2021

02 Jun May 21, 2021

Top News

• Questions Loom for States, Localities About How to Spend Billions in Covid Relief Funds. RouteFifty
• Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas agree to a ceasefire. CNN
• House Narrowly Passes $1.9 Billion Capitol Security Bill. New York Times
• U.S. weekly deaths from COVID fall to lowest in 14 months. Reuters
• The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics. Politico

Energy & Natural Resources

• Biden administration takes first step toward light bulb efficiency standard. The Hill
• Supreme Court Rules for Oil-and-Gas Companies Fighting Climate Lawsuit. Wall Street Journal
• Facing Hurricane and Wildfire Seasons, FEMA Is Already Worn Out. New York Times
• Biden administration announces new Energy Star standards, plans for emissions targets for federal buildings. Washington Post
• The lucrative climate proposal that’s going nowhere in Washington. Politico

Indian Affairs

• Navajo Nation tops Cherokee to become largest tribe in US. Associated Press
• How cities, states, and tribes can boost entrepreneurship via the American Rescue Plan. Brookings Institute
• Some representations of Native Americans erase their history. Washington Post
• First Native American Cabinet Secretary Makes Her Mark. AARP

Labor 

• Commuter Rail Reform Faces High Labor, Infrastructure Costs Governing
• As GOP-run states slash jobless aid, the Biden administration finds it has few options. WaPo
• Segregating Unvaccinated Workers? Think Twice, Attorneys Warn. Bloomberg
• Classifying workers as independent contractors is now tougher after a Trump-era rule is dropped. USA Today

Taxation & Trade

• Taxes would likely rise for the wealthy regardless of Biden’s plans. CNBC
• U.S., Canada, Mexico hold ‘robust’ trade deal talks, downplay differences. Reuters
• Biden administration proposes global minimum tax of at least 15%. CBS News
• Wyden unveils bill to revive expired trade programs. Politico
• EU Suspends Plans to Raise Tariffs on U.S. Whiskey, Other Goods. Wall Street Journal

Technology 

• Granholm expresses openness to pipeline cyber standards after Colonial attack. The Hill
• Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Taking The Witness Stand Friday. Here’s Why It’s A Big Deal Industries pressure. NPR
• Washington to act as chip crisis worsens. Politico
• Bitcoin Miners Are Giving New Life to Old Fossil-Fuel Power Plants. WSJ
• Senate Commerce advances Biden’s top science nominee. The Hill

Transportation & Infrastructure 

• Carper sets ‘aggressive’ timeline for marking up Senate highway. Roll Call.
• House Republicans introduce $400 billion transportation bill as another option for infrastructure. CNBC
• U.S. President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Jennifer Homendy for Chair of National Transportation Safety Board. Mirage News
• House Democrats Looking At How To Alter Tax Code To Fund Biden’s Infrastructure Plan. NPR

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