Proposed Bills

• Inflation Reduction Act Revives Hope for Biden's Climate Agenda

  08.03/Alert

  The far-reaching proposal would represent the largest legislative climate investment in U.S. history.

• Historic $280 Billion Investment in Domestic Semiconductor Manufacturing and STEM Research and Development to Be Signed into Law

  07.09/Alert

  The legislation is the result of months of negotiations between Congressional Democrats and Republicans to support domestic semiconductor manufacturing and related research and workforce development efforts.

• Senate Democrats Announce Breakthrough Bill on Energy, Climate, Tax Reform and Prescription Drug Pricing 

  07.29/Alert

  The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 would constitute a historic investment in the U.S. clean energy industry.

• Landmark Federal Privacy Bill Clears First Congressional Hurdle

  07.08/Alert

  In early June, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5), the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, along with Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ranking Member of the Senate Science, Commerce & Transportation Committee, unveiled a draft federal privacy bill known as the “American Data Privacy and Protection Act.” The proposal—the first to garner bipartisan, bicameral support in Congress—would establish a national framework to protect consumer data privacy and security and bolster individual privacy rights.

• Biden’s Infrastructure Bill and the Promise of NEPA Reform

  08.23/Alert

  The current bill contains several provisions which would significantly alter the requirements of National Environmental Policy Act review, but it remains to be seen whether those changes will survive House review.

• Senate Passes $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Package, Tees up $3.5 Trillion Budget Reconciliation Bill

  08.12/Alert

  On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a mammoth $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that represents months of negotiations between Senate Democrats and Republicans and the White House. The legislation, which passed by a 69-30 vote, includes funding for roads, bridges, electric vehicles, broadband, cybersecurity, water infrastructure, and grid resilience, among other priorities.

• 2018 Spending Plan Boosts Funding for Affordable Housing

  04.10/Blog

  A $1.3 trillion spending package that includes a 12.5% increase in low-income housing tax credit allocations over the next four years is welcome news to affordable housing developers who have been facing funding gaps.

• New CERCLA Brownfields Amendments

  03.29/Blog

  Spurred by the realization there may be as many as 450,000 Brownfields sites around the country that require some financial assistance, the recently enacted bi-partisan BUILD Act reauthorizes the EPA's Brownfields program at current funding levels through 2023.

• Bill Expands Corporate Liability for Human Trafficking to Social Media Companies

  03.27/Alert

  The recently passed Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) creates civil liability for social media companies that benefit from a human trafficker’s online media presence if they “should have known” that their platform was being utilized for such exploitation.

• Recent and Upcoming Changes to 401(k) Plans

  03.08/Alert

  The rules governing 401(k) plans are steadily evolving. Both the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (the Budget) contain a number of changes to the 401(k) plan rules.

• Safety from Hackers—and Trial Lawyers

  02.25/Article

  A simple legislative fix would shield cybersecurity innovators from costly nuisance lawsuits.

• Congress Expands the Oil Pollution Act to Reach Spills Originating Outside of the U.S.

  01.22/Alert

  The Foreign Spill Protection Act of 2017 establishes oil spill liability in the U.S. for foreign-based offshore exploration and production facilities.

• Key Tax Reform Issues for Nonprofit Membership Organizations/Associations

  01.16/Alert

  While associations won't face the harshest proposals, several features of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will have a negative impact on tax-exempt membership organizations.

• Five Things Employers Should Know about Tax Reform

  01.04/Alert

  The final Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will require employers to address a number of  changes to equity compensation and employee benefits laws. Here are five major ones.

• The Impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on LIHTC Investments

  01.03/Alert

  With the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law, investors in low income housing tax credit projects should take note of a few important changes.

• Historic Estate Planning Opportunities from Tax Reform

  12.28/Alert

  How can your estate planning efforts take advantage of the new tax law? Here are some beneficial changes.

• Last Minute Tax Change Benefits Commercial Real Estate

  12.18/Blog

  A last-minute change to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could be particularly beneficial to certain commercial property owners with few employees and leveraged capital investments.

• Five Things to Know about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

  12.04/Alert

  As the House and Senate head to conference regarding the final tax bill, every business should pay particular attention to how these five issues are handled.

• Retroactive Corporate Liability for Human Rights Abuses

  12.07/Alert

  Section 13 of the Criminal Finances Act 2017 is now in effect in the United Kingdom, meaning companies have far greater liability for human rights violations.

• Ireland Set to Bring Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws Up-to-Date

  12.07/Alert

  New legislation represents a major update to Irish anti-bribery and corruption laws. International companies with Irish subsidiaries, as well as Irish-headquartered companies, should take note.

• Estate Planning Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

  11.28/Alert

  The Tax Cuts Jobs Act passed by the House will almost certainly be amended in the Senate but, as currently drafted, the legislation will dramatically change the estate and gift tax regime in United States.

• Three Key Aspects of the Proposed Reform to the CFIUS Process

  11.18/Blog

  A bill updating the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and the national security review process has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate. Here's what you need to know.

• House Judiciary Committee Votes to Advance Controversial ADA Amendment

  10.02/Blog

  The House of Representatives has proposed legislation that would limit Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits based on a business’s failure to proactively remove obstacles that impede access to existing public accommodations. Disabled persons’ groups oppose the bill.

• The Safe DRONE Act of 2017: The Newest Drone Bill on the Block

  06.29/Blog

  In June 2017, U.S. Senators introduced the Safe DRONE Act of 2017, one of a number of bills aimed at addressing the regulatory needs of the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. Current federal efforts focus on keeping up with technological advancements and creating a uniform framework for UAS-related laws.

• New Details Emerge on Legislative Proposal to Modernize CFIUS Process

  06.23/Blog

  A bipartisan group in Congress is working to modernize the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review process due to increased foreign direct investment and perceived threats to national security. The proposed legislation would focus on nations posing the greatest threat and give CFIUS clearer authority to review investments.