August 29, 2008
The Bush administration is proposing that workplace hazard standards be subject to more public and expert scrutiny before being adopted. Critics say the proposals could make it harder to limit worker exposure to carcinogens and other toxic materials. The federal …
May 12, 2008
The U.S. Senate last week officially rejected a bid by Gulf state senators to add wind coverage to a financially strapped federal program that provides flood insurance. Lawmakers from Louisiana and Mississippi cited problems that occurred after Hurricane Katrina and …
April 25, 2008
People seeking genetic testing to learn if they are predisposed to serious diseases would not have to fear losing their jobs or their health insurance under anti-discrimination legislation the Senate was to vote on Thursday. H.R. 493, within sight of …
January 11, 2008
Internal Revenue Service records, including taxpayer information, are vulnerable to tampering or disclosure because it has not yet fixed dozens of information security weaknesses, according to a government report. The existing problems, the congressional Government Accountability Office said, included giving …
December 7, 2007
Two House lawmakers from fire-struck California won approval this week for legislation to set up a national registry to track convicted arsonists. The bill, which was passed by voice vote, requires convicted arsonists to report to authorities on where they …
October 19, 2007
he House acted this week to reduce the working hours of railroad crews, with lawmakers saying employee fatigue is a major factor in train accidents. The labor rule changes were part of a railroad safety bill that also called for …
October 22, 2006
A Democratic-controlled House would look into insurance industry practices criticized for shifting the financial burden of Hurricane Katrina claims onto the taxpayer, a lawmaker who headed a Katrina task force said Thursday. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., said the Democratic task …
June 29, 2006
The federal flood insurance program, still reeling from historic losses from Hurricane Katrina, may get a helping hand from Congress. The House voted 416-4 Tuesday to phase out subsidies on some vacation homes and commercial property and raise premiums at …
December 19, 2005
Recent N.Y. $21 Million Award May Be Last of Its Kind in the Nation A New York court’s $21 million award last month to a young Wall Street trader paralyzed in an accident involving a Budget Rent-a-Car vehicle may be …
December 19, 2005
Recent N.Y. $21 Million Jury Award May Be Last of Its Kind in the Nation A New York court’s $21 million award last month to a young Wall Street trader paralyzed in an accident involving a Budget Rent-a-Car vehicle may …