BANKRUPTCY VOTE POSSIBLE NEXT WEEK

 

            The House of Representatives is expected to take up bankruptcy reform legislation next week, with a vote on final passage possible by Thursday.  As in the past, the debate will likely be contentious, although historically the votes on similar legislation in the House have ended with strong, bipartisan margins in favor of the measure.

It is critical to maintain the momentum and support in the House in order to achieve a solid bi-partisan vote.  NRF will reactivate its operator-assisted, toll-free Bankruptcy Hotline to Congress--(800) 878-9374--beginning Wednesday, February 28 - Thursday, March 1, during office hours, from 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (EST).  NRF asks its members to call their Representatives and urge them to support H.R. 333 and oppose any amendments.

On the Senate side, the Judiciary Committee is scheduled to markup the companion bill S. 220 on Tuesday, and could see floor action by the end of the week.  Given the 50-50 split and a handful of die-hard opponents of the measure on the Committee, it is unlikely that all of the expected amendments will be defeated.  NRF will work closely with Committee members to try to prevent any watering down of the bill and to secure approval by the full Committee.

If you have any questions, please contact Mallory Duncan or Katherine Lugar at (202) 783-7971.

 

 

CONGRESS LOOKS TO OVERTURN ERGONOMICS RULE

 

            In the first use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress is expected to vote to overturn the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) ergonomics standards in early March.

            In late 2000, OSHA significantly expanded standards for workplace ergonomics.  This new mandate purports to establish programs to reduce injuries caused by repetitive motion tasks.  In reality, it could cost small businesses and retailers $60 billion a year or more for non-work related disorders.  A Congressionally-mandated National Academy of Sciences study to determine the effect of ergonomic injuries remains incomplete.

            Under the CRA, Congress has ultimate accountability for the regulations issued by federal agencies that have been charged with implementing the statutes passed by Congress. 

The CRA gives Congress the authority to scrutinize these new agency rules to ensure that the new regulations appropriately implement the laws as Congress intended and do so in a cost-effective manner that does not impose unnecessary burdens on the public.  Both houses must pass a disapproval resolution and, if the President signs it, the rule essentially disappears.  Even if it has already taken effect, the agency that issued it can no longer enforce the regulation or defend it in court.  Furthermore, the agency is banned from pushing a similar version of the rule at a later date.  Since the Act has never been successfully invoked, however, none of this has been tried.

            A vote to overturn the ergonomics rule could come within the next few weeks.  It is critical that NRF members contact their legislators to urge them to support a disapproval motion on the OSHA standards.  Members can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

            If you have any questions, please contact Katherine Lugar at (202) 626-8195.

 

 

UPCOMING NRF MEETINGS

 

Washington Leadership Conference

March 27-28, 2001, Washington, DC

 

Policy Council - March 27, 2001, Washington, DC

 

Independent Stores Board - March 27, 2001,

Washington, DC

 

International Trade Advisory Council -

March 27, 2001, Washington, DC

 

Taxation Committee - April 4-5, 2001,

Washington DC

 

General Counsels Forum - April 19, 2001, Washington, DC

 

 

 

CONGRESSIONAL OUTLOOK

February 26 - March 2

 

House:     In session:  H.R. 333 "Bankruptcy Reform Act"

 

Senate:     In session: Judiciary Committee markup - S. 220 "Bankruptcy Reform Act"