Citizen Health & Safety

EPA Suspends Fish Kill Rule

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended a fish protection rule in response to a January court decision. The decision vacated parts of the rule, which White House officials had edited and weakened. EPA will now have to begin a new round of rulemaking in order to address the ecological problem.

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U.S. Ability to Regulate Chinese Imports in Question

The United States government is struggling to ensure the safety of consumer products and food imported from China, as evidenced by a recent spate of controversies involving dangerous Chinese-made products. While America's consumer product safety net is relatively strong, China's young market economy is largely unchecked by government regulators. Subsequently, dangerous Chinese products are finding their way to American shores where federal agency officials are unable to monitor the volume of imports.

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House Votes to Stop Funding for Bush's Regulatory Changes

The House passed an appropriations bill June 28 that prevents parts of the executive branch from spending Fiscal Year 2008 funds on the implementation of President George W. Bush's controversial executive order amending the regulatory process. The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, FY 2008, (H.R. 2829) was amended by voice vote late on the night of June 27 and was passed the next day. The bill provides funding for everything from the Treasury Department and the Executive Office of the President to the Federal Election Commission and the U.S. Tax Court.

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Coal Miners Experience Unusual Occurrences of Black Lung Disease

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released July 6 the results of studies prompted by reports that underground coal miners are still experiencing unusual occurrences of black lung disease despite federal regulations to prevent exposure to coal dust. The "clusters of rapidly progressing and potentially disabling pneumoconiosis," or black lung disease, were found in 2005 and 2006 in some eastern Kentucky and southern Virginia miners, according to CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

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Major Holes in Financial Product Safety Net

Jul 9, 2007 by Matthew Madia

A Los Angeles Times article airs the views of Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard law professor who wants the federal government to do a better job protecting Americans from confusing or misleading financial products. Warren contends government does a much better job of regulating products like toasters than it does of regulating financial products like mortgages and credit cards. Warren is calling for a financial products safety commission which would operate much like the existing Consumer Product Safety Commission:

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EPA Delays Recycling Rule, White House Lurks in the Shadows

Jul 6, 2007 by Matthew Madia

EPA is putting the brakes on an important recycling rule, according to BNA news service (subscription). The rule has been in the works for well over a year, and EPA recently indicated it would announce a proposed rule this fall. Now, EPA says it will issue only an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, a sort of baby step in the regulatory process.

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Are Congress's FDA Reform Efforts in Vain?

Jul 5, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Today, The Washington Post published a good article by David Brown which discusses Congress's recent efforts to renew the Prescription Drug User Fee Act and to reform drug safety at FDA. The must-pass legislation will improve FDA's ability to conduct post-market surveillance. While FDA needs more authority in this area, the article rightly points out post-market surveillance is "the regulatory equivalent of chasing the horses after they are out of the barn."

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House Moves to Curb Bush Regulatory Power Grab

Jul 3, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Last week, the House passed the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill (HR 2829). The bill contains an amendment which would forbid the White House from expending any funds in implementing President Bush's recent changes to the regulatory process.

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EPA Considers Industry Allies for Key Advisory Committee

Jul 3, 2007 by Matthew Madia

Scientific advisory committees provide important, impartial advice on a wide range of issues. A committee's recommendations provide a strong analytical and scientific basis for agency rulemaking activity. EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) is one of the federal government's most important.

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House Energy Legislation is a Big Disappointment

Jun 29, 2007 by Matthew Madia

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has finished round one of its comprehensive energy legislation efforts. Unlike the Senate, the House version does not include an increase in CAFE standards, the national program for vehicle fuel efficiency. Republicans pushed for improved CAFE standards, but Democrats defeated their efforts. Leading the charge was auto industry lobbyist veteran Michigan Democrat, Congressman John Dingell. According to Reuters, in its current form the bill would:

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