OSHA Targets Tree Care to Reduce Fall-Related Incidents
On May 1, 2023, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to decrease fall-related injuries and fatalities across all work-at-height industries, including tree care. The NEP is based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, which reveals that falls continue to be the leading cause of severe injuries […]
Lawmakers to Revisit the Farm Bill in the 118th Congress
One of the top priorities for the 118th Congress is the reauthorization of the Farm Bill. For tree care providers and vegetation management contractors, policymakers’ efforts to address challenges facing the nation’s forests and outside stakeholders’ support for pesticide preemption are likely to have direct impact on company operations. The multi-year Farm Bill, evaluated every […]
House and Senate Set Committee Rosters for the 118th Congress
In the 118th Congress, political-party power is divided. The House is narrowly controlled by Republicans 222-213, and the Senate is narrowly controlled by Democrats 51-49. While divided control may make legislating difficult, House and Senate committees will look to move their respective party’s priorities forward in the hopes that compromise is achievable and/or to lay […]
Biden Administration Updates Its Regulatory Plan for 2023
On January 4, 2023, the Biden administration released its Fall 2022 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, providing a detailed glimpse into the regulatory and deregulatory activities under development across approximately 67 federal departments, agencies and commissions. These semi-annual regulatory agendas report on the actions administrative agencies plan to issue in the near and […]
Congress Provides Trillions of Dollars to Fund the Federal Government in 2023
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (the CAA) to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2023. The legislation is considered a “must-pass” bill and, as such, is often used as a vehicle to pass unrelated legislation that may not have the votes to move as a stand-alone […]