AICPA 

Press Release
AICPA Names George Willie Scholarship and Internship Recipients
The AICPA named the five inaugural recipients of the George Willie Scholarship and Internship, which provides funding for the fifth year of school and an internship during tax season.
October 16, 2019

CBO

Cost Estimate
H.R. 3352, Department of State Authorization Act of 2019
October 17, 2019
As passed by the House of Representatives on July 25, 2019

Report
Issues and Options for a Tax on Vehicle Miles Traveled by Commercial Trucks
October 17, 2019
CBO examines choices lawmakers would face in establishing a federal tax on the miles traveled by commercial trucks—including choices about the tax base, rate structure, and implementation methods—and illustrates how such a tax might affect the federal budget.

Cost Estimate
H.R. 1230, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act
October 16, 2019
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Education and Labor on June 11, 2019

Cost Estimate
H.R. 2088, A bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reauthorize the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, and for other purposes
October 16, 2019
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on July 17, 2019

Cost Estimate
H.R. 2514, COUNTER Act of 2019
October 16, 2019
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Financial Services on May 9, 2019

Cost Estimate
H.R. 2781, Educating Medical Professionals and Optimizing Workforce Efficiency and Readiness for Health Act of 2019
October 16, 2019
As reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 24, 2019

Cost Estimate
H.R. 4029, Tribal Access to Homeless Assistance Act
October 16, 2019
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Financial Services on September 20, 2019

Cost Estimate
H.R. 4334, Dignity in Aging Act of 2019
October 16, 2019
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Education and Labor on September 18, 2019

Cost Estimate
H.R. 728, Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization of 2019
October 16, 2019
As reported by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 24, 2019

Cost Estimate
S. 439, End Plush Retirements Act
October 16, 2019
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on July 24, 2019

Report
CBO’s Work in Progress as of October 4, 2019
October 15, 2019
Each quarter, CBO provides information about its work in progress. As of October 4, the agency was working on 140 cost estimates for bills in addition to 32 analytic reports and working papers.

Cost Estimate
H.R. 2507, Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2019
October 15, 2019
As passed by the House of Representatives on July 24, 2019

Cost Estimate
S. 1349, Secure Traveler Act
October 15, 2019
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on July 24, 2019

FASB

FASB Approves Proposed Effective Date Delays at October 16 Meeting  [10/18/19]
Media Advisory

GAO

Federal Land Management Agencies:
Additional Actions Needed to Address Facility Security Assessment Requirements
GAO-19-643:Published: Sep 25, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 21, 2019.

Military Pensions:
Servicemembers Need Better Information to Support Retirement Savings Decisions
GAO-19-631:Published: Sep 19, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 21, 2019.

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund:
Limited Information Available on State or Local Requirements That Are Equivalent to Federal Cross-Cutting Environmental Requirements
GAO-20-77R:Published: Oct 18, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 18, 2019.

Environmental Liabilities:
DOE Would Benefit from Incorporating Risk-Informed Decision-Making into Its Cleanup Policy
GAO-19-339:Published: Sep 18, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 18, 2019.

Hardrock Mining:
BLM and Forest Service Hold Billions in Financial Assurances, but More Readily Available Information Could Assist with Monitoring
GAO-19-436R:Published: Sep 18, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 18, 2019.

Freedom of Information Act:
DHS Needs to Reduce Backlogged Requests and Eliminate Duplicate Processing
GAO-20-209T:Published: Oct 17, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 17, 2019.

Highway Emergency Relief:
Federal Highway Administration Should Enhance Accountability over Project Decisions
GAO-20-32:Published: Oct 17, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 17, 2019.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
FAA's Compliance and Enforcement Approach for Drones Could Benefit from Improved Communication and Data
GAO-20-29:Published: Oct 17, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 17, 2019.

Civilian Personnel:
Additional Guidance and Consistent Data Reporting Could Help Improve the Marine Corps' Budget Management
GAO-20-148:Published: Oct 16, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 16, 2019.

Natural Gas Storage:
Actions Needed to Assess Inspection Workload and Progress toward Safety Outcomes
GAO-20-167:Published: Oct 16, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 16, 2019.

VA Health Care:
Actions Needed to Ensure Provider Qualifications and Competence
GAO-20-152T:Published: Oct 16, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 16, 2019.

Environmental Justice:
Federal Efforts Need Better Planning, Coordination, and Methods to Assess Progress
GAO-19-543:Published: Sep 16, 2019. Publicly Released: Oct 16, 2019.

IASB

18 October 2019
Compilation of 2019 agenda decisions published

18 October 2019
Meet the Experts—join the IFRS Foundation and PwC at the 21st annual conference

14 October 2019
IASB proposes changes to the IFRS Taxonomy 2019 for Interest Rate Benchmark Reform

IRS 

IRS reminds employers about the benefits of EFTPS
IR-2019-171, October 18, 2019 — The Internal Revenue Service today wants small business owners who are employers to know that the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System has features that can help them in meeting their tax obligations. EFTPS can help employers whether they prepare and submit payroll taxes themselves or if they hire a payroll service provider to do it on their behalf.

IRS selects nine new members for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee
IR-2019-170, October 15, 2019 — The Internal Revenue Service has selected nine new members for the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC).

IRS celebrates military families during National Work and Family Month
IR-2019-169, October 15, 2019 — As part of National Work and Family Month, the IRS reminds military families that they often qualify for specific tax rules and benefits.

NYS Dept. of Taxation and Finance

More Than 800 Cartons of Illicit Cigarettes, $63,500 in Cash, and Vehicles Seized on Staten Island
October 17, 2019​

SEC

SEC Proposes Amendments to Exemptive Applications Procedures
2019-219, Oct. 18, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has voted to propose rule amendments to establish an expedited review procedure for applications under the Investment Company Act that are substantially identical to recent precedent, as well as a new informal internal procedure for applications that would not qualify for the new expedited process. The proposed actions are intended to make the application process more efficient as well as to provide additional certainty and transparency to the process. The Commission also announced its intention that the staff of the Division of Investment Management begin publicly disseminating comments on applications and responses to those comments.

SEC and Morehouse College Announce Atlanta Event for Minority Entrepreneurs
2019-218, Oct. 17, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission and Morehouse College will co-host a panel discussion on strategies to attract investment capital to minority businesses from 4 - 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 24 during homecoming week. The special event, which will be held on the campus of Morehouse College, will feature conversations with minority entrepreneurs and investors who will explore solutions for overcoming barriers and share business successes.

SEC Issues Statement on Market Structure Innovation for Thinly Traded Securities
2019-217, Oct. 17, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today issued a statement that invites exchanges and other market participants to submit innovative proposals designed to improve the secondary market structure for exchange listed equity securities that trade in lower volumes, commonly referred to as "thinly traded securities."

SEC Charges 18 Traders in $31 Million Stock Manipulation Scheme
2019-216, Oct. 16, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed an emergency action and obtained an asset freeze against 18 traders in a scheme to manipulate more than 3,000 U.S.-listed securities for over $31 million in illicit profits.

SEC Promotes Teacher Investment Outreach
2019-215, Oct. 15, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced several teacher investment outreach efforts in connection with its Teachers Initiative.  These initiatives include the launch of a podcast series for public school educators, nationwide events for teachers, and the RISE 2.0 of California summit in Los Angeles on Oct. 17.  The outreach efforts advance the Commission’s commitment to protecting America’s educators when they invest in the securities markets by informing educators about the importance of savings and investing, researching investment products and financial professionals before investing, and identifying the red flags of investment fraud.

Supervisor Charged for Role in Brokerage Firm’s Improper Handling of ADRs
2019-214, Oct. 15, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Domenick Migliorato, a former supervisor of the securities lending desk at Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Financial Services LLC (ICBCFS), has agreed to settle charges for his supervisory failures involving the improper handling of transactions involving American Depositary Receipts (ADRs). Earlier this year, ICBCFS agreed to pay more than $42 million to settle the SEC’s charges against the firm.

Robert Burson, Associate Regional Director of Chicago Office, to Retire From the SEC After 29 Years of Service
2019-213, Oct. 15, 2019 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Robert Burson, an Associate Regional Director of Enforcement in the Chicago Regional Office, is retiring after 29 years at the agency, all in the Chicago office.

TIGTA

Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Internal Revenue Service for Fiscal Year 2020
October 18, 2019