Regulatory Roundup - Jan. 19-24
CBO
Economic Variables Underlying Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations Requests for Legislative Branch Agencies
January 21, 2022
The increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for FY 2023 is projected to be 2.8 percent. The change in the employment cost index for wages and salaries from Sept. 2020 to Sept. 2021 was 4.6 percent.
Report
The Prices That Commercial Health Insurers and Medicare Pay for Hospitals’ and Physicians’ Services
January 20, 2022
CBO examined potential reasons that the prices paid by commercial health insurers for hospitals’ and physicians’ services are higher, rise more quickly, and vary more by area than the prices paid by the Medicare fee-for-service program.
Cost Estimate
H.R. 2116, CROWN Act of 2021
January 19, 2022
As ordered reported by the House Committee on the Judiciary on September 30, 2021
Cost Estimate
H.R. 2748, Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021
January 19, 2022
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on September 30, 2021
Cost Estimate
H.R. 2899, a bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating areas within the island of Guam as a National Heritage Area, and for other purposes
January 19, 2022
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural Resources on July 14, 2021
Cost Estimate
H.R. 5616, DHS Basic Training Accreditation Improvement Act of 2021
January 19, 2022
As ordered reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security on October 26, 2021
Report
Prescription Drugs: Spending, Use, and Prices
January 19, 2022
CBO examines trends in nationwide spending on prescription drugs over the 1980–2018 period. CBO also provides a detailed analysis of trends in spending, use, and prices in the Medicare Part D and Medicaid programs over the 2009–2018 period.
Cost Estimate
S. 2991, Countering Human Trafficking Act of 2021
January 19, 2022
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on November 3, 2021
Cost Estimate
S. 3094, Reaching Every Homeless Veteran Act of 2021
January 19, 2022
As ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on December 15, 2021
GAO
K-12 Education
Students in DOD Schools Generally Score Higher Than Public School Students on National Assessments
GAO-22-105058
Published: Jan 21, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2022.
The Department of Defense manages a school system that provides prekindergarten through 12th grade education—primarily for the children of military service members and other DOD employees. We reviewed academic achievement at these schools for the 4th and 8th grades.
Federal Real Property
GSA Should Fully Assess Its Prospectus Process and Communicate Results to Its Authorizing Committees
GAO-22-104639
Published: Jan 21, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2022.
The General Services Administration (GSA) spends billions of dollars annually to maintain federal buildings and lease office space. For major leases and repairs, GSA seeks approval from Congress through its "prospectus process.
Federal Prisons
Monitoring Efforts to Implement COVID-19 Recommendations and Examining First Step Act Implementation
GAO-22-105691
Published: Jan 21, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 21, 2022.
The pandemic has made it harder for the Bureau of Prisons to care for and rehabilitate the more than 157,000 federal inmates. We testified on the importance of implementing 3 recommendations from our July 2021 report to enhance the Bureau's COVID-19 response and guidance.
Nuclear Enterprise
DOD and NNSA Could Further Enhance How They Manage Risk and Prioritize Efforts
GAO-22-104061
Published: Jan 20, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 20, 2022.
The Department of Defense is committed to modernizing the U.S. nuclear enterprise. This includes weapons and the infrastructure to build them (the Department of Energy's responsibility), as well as the aircraft, missiles, and other platforms for delivering them (DOD's responsibility).
FEMA Workforce
Long-Standing and New Challenges Could Affect Mission Success
GAO-22-105631
Published: Jan 20, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 20, 2022.
FEMA has long been tasked with the difficult job of leading the federal response to natural disasters. We testified about challenges facing its workforce. The frequency of disasters is increasing but FEMA has staffing shortages.
Triángulo Norte de Centroamérica
La suspensión y reprogramación de fondos de los Estados Unidos en 2019 afectó adversamente los proyectos de asistencia
GAO-22-105386
Published: Jan 20, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 20, 2022.
To see the version of this page in English, see GAO-21-104366. La asistencia extranjera para los países del Triángulo Norte (El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras) tiene como objetivo promover la prosperidad, el buen gobierno, y la seguridad en la región.
Information Technology
Biannual Scorecards Have Evolved and Served as Effective Oversight Tools
GAO-22-105659
Published: Jan 20, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 20, 2022.
The federal government annually spends more than $100 billion on IT investments—many of which have suffered from ineffective management. Congress and the President enacted laws, such as the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA), to improve this.
COVID-19
HHS and DOD Transitioned Vaccine Responsibilities to HHS, but Need to Address Outstanding Issues
GAO-22-104453
Published: Jan 19, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2022.
Since May 2020, federal efforts to speed the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines—previously known as Operation Warp Speed—have been led by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Defense.
Tráfico de armas de fuego
Se necesita más información para fundamentar las iniciativas de los Estados Unidos en Centroamérica
GAO-22-105509
Published: Jan 19, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2022.
To see the version of this page in English, see GAO-22-104680. Las pandillas y los cárteles de droga cometen gran parte de la violencia en Belice, El Salvador, Guatemala y Honduras. Las armas de fuego que usan son en su mayoría de otros países, incluido EE. UU.
Disaster Recovery
Better Data Are Needed to Ensure Equitable Delivery of HUD Block Grant Funds to Vulnerable Populations
GAO-22-105548
Published: Jan 19, 2022.
Publicly Released: Jan 19, 2022.
Since 1993, Congress has provided over $90 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds to help in the aftermath of natural disasters.
IASB
November 2021 Capital Markets Advisory Committee meeting summary available
24 January 2022
MEETING
IRS
IRS Chief Counsel looking for 200 experienced attorneys to focus on abusive tax deals; job openings postedTop 5 things to remember when filing income tax returns in 2022
IR-2022-16, January 20, 2022 — With filing season beginning January 24, the Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers about several key items to keep in mind when filing their federal income tax returns this year.
January 31 wage statement deadline reminder for employers
IR-2022-15, January 19, 2022 — The Internal Revenue Service today urged employers to be aware of the January deadline to file Forms W-2 and other wage statements.
SEC
SEC Issues Awards Totaling More Than $40 Million to Four Whistleblowers
2022-7, Jan. 21, 2022 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced three awards totaling more than $40 million to four whistleblowers who provided information and assistance in three separate covered actions.
SEC Seeks Candidates for Investor Advisory Committee
2022-6, Jan. 19, 2022 — The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking candidates for appointment to the Investor Advisory Committee to help protect investors and improve securities regulations.