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May 21, 2021

Top News

  • Questions Loom for States, Localities About How to Spend Billions in Covid Relief Funds. RouteFifty
  • Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas agree to a ceasefire. CNN
  • House Narrowly Passes $1.9 Billion Capitol Security Bill. New York Times
  • U.S. weekly deaths from COVID fall to lowest in 14 months. Reuters
  • The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics. Politico

Energy & Natural Resources

  • Biden administration takes first step toward light bulb efficiency standard. The Hill
  • Supreme Court Rules for Oil-and-Gas Companies Fighting Climate Lawsuit. Wall Street Journal
  • Facing Hurricane and Wildfire Seasons, FEMA Is Already Worn Out. New York Times
  • Biden administration announces new Energy Star standards, plans for emissions targets for federal buildings. Washington Post
  • The lucrative climate proposal that’s going nowhere in Washington. Politico

Indian Affairs

  • Navajo Nation tops Cherokee to become largest tribe in US. Associated Press
  • How cities, states, and tribes can boost entrepreneurship via the American Rescue Plan. Brookings Institute
  • Some representations of Native Americans erase their history. Washington Post
  • First Native American Cabinet Secretary Makes Her Mark. AARP

Labor 

  • Commuter Rail Reform Faces High Labor, Infrastructure Costs Governing
  • As GOP-run states slash jobless aid, the Biden administration finds it has few options. WaPo
  • Segregating Unvaccinated Workers? Think Twice, Attorneys Warn. Bloomberg
  • Classifying workers as independent contractors is now tougher after a Trump-era rule is dropped. USA Today

Taxation & Trade

  • Taxes would likely rise for the wealthy regardless of Biden’s plans. CNBC
  • U.S., Canada, Mexico hold ‘robust’ trade deal talks, downplay differences. Reuters
  • Biden administration proposes global minimum tax of at least 15%. CBS News
  • Wyden unveils bill to revive expired trade programs. Politico
  • EU Suspends Plans to Raise Tariffs on U.S. Whiskey, Other Goods. Wall Street Journal

Technology 

  • Granholm expresses openness to pipeline cyber standards after Colonial attack. The Hill
  • Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Taking The Witness Stand Friday. Here’s Why It’s A Big Deal Industries pressure. NPR
  • Washington to act as chip crisis worsens. Politico
  • Bitcoin Miners Are Giving New Life to Old Fossil-Fuel Power Plants. WSJ
  • Senate Commerce advances Biden’s top science nominee. The Hill

Transportation & Infrastructure 

  • Carper sets ‘aggressive’ timeline for marking up Senate highway. Roll Call.
  • House Republicans introduce $400 billion transportation bill as another option for infrastructure. CNBC
  • U.S. President Biden Announces his Intent to Nominate Jennifer Homendy for Chair of National Transportation Safety Board. Mirage News
  • House Democrats Looking At How To Alter Tax Code To Fund Biden’s Infrastructure Plan. NPR

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