March 15, 2019

Top News

• 49 killed at mosques in ‘one of New Zealand’s darkest days.’
• Beto announces bid for president.
• What Trump proposed in his 2020 budget
• Senate Rejects Trump’s Border Emergency Declaration, Setting Up First Veto.
• House Votes Almost Unanimously For Public Release Of Mueller Report
• The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics.

Energy, Natural Resources, & Agriculture

• Trump signs major public lands, conservation bill into law
• Senate Committee holds hearing on outdoor recreation infrastructure
• The organic food industry is booming, and that may be bad for consumers
• Senate GOP expected to force vote on Green New Deal in March.
• 2018 was California’s worst year of fire ever, federal report confirms
• Pentagon Pushes for Weaker Standards on Chemicals Contaminating Drinking Water
• School climate strikes draw thousands to the streets in cities around the globe

Indian Affairs

• New laws move up Washington’s presidential primary and improve voting access for tribes
• Proposed bill aims to incentivize Native American students in Oregon to study health care.
• Food Groups, Tribes Concerned Over Genetically Engineered Salmon.
• Democrats, tribes renew criticism of Trump’s monument cuts.
• Resolution to recognize contributions of Native American women introduced in Congress
• Indian Child Welfare Act Case Heads to Appeals Court

Labor

• Uber will pay $20 million to settle lawsuits over question of whether drivers are employees
• AFL-CIO criticizes Green New Deal, calling it ‘not achievable or realistic.’
• UAW chief raises strike pay, issues warning to automakers
• Labor Secretary’s @POTUS Tweets Raise Ethics Fears in Department
• Transit unions want protections against AV workforce impacts.

Taxation, Trade, & Defense

• Lawmakers Press Treasury Secretary Mnuchin for Opportunity Zones Oversight
• Trump’s World Bank Nominee Tries to Distance Himself From the President
• White House on collision course with Democrats over labor issues in new NAFTA
• Massachusetts legislators mull gas tax indexing.

Technology

• USDOT launches council to support emerging transportation tech.
• At SXSW, Sen. Amy Klobuchar pitches new tax for Big Tech profits on consumer data
• SXSW 2019: A Governor and a Mayor Discuss the Future of Data

Transportation & Infrastructure

• President’s FY20 budget proposal a mixed bag for transportation.
• U.S. transport chief: ‘tight time frame’ for $1 trillion infrastructure boost
• Transportation Officials Seek Flexible Federal Infrastructure Funding
• Committee Probe Of Trump Organization Could Derail Infrastructure Talks
• FAA, still suffering from shutdown, now takes reputation hit after Boeing crash.