On January 5, 2021, the EPA continued its 11th hour rulemaking by releasing its “secret-science” policy, formally known as the “Strengthening Transparency in Pivotal Science Underlying Significant Regulatory Actions and Influential Scientific Information” rule. Pending for several years, the first-draft rule generated over 600,000 public comments, among the most in recent EPA history. The final rule requires researchers and others to disclose the raw data and other information and methodologies used to justify policymaking. The rule applies not only to significant regulatory actions but also to “influential scientific information” released. Business groups during the Obama administration had argued that the EPA used data not revealed to the public when creating significant new regulations impacting industry.

After six months of negotiations, Washington has come to agreement and passed a 5,593-page bill providing COVID relief to businesses, renewing and expanding the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program loans while allowing for a second PPP draw, permitting the deduction of PPP expenses and extending more tax relief to employers. Reversing the IRS decision and allowing PPP loan recipients to deduct their expenses was a top priority for businesses facing a surprise tax penalty of up to 37%.

The U.S. Congress is moving a bill extending government spending for one more week to prevent a federal government shutdown until Friday, December 18 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Lawmakers hope the one-week delay will allow time to negotiate a COVID-19 relief package and a broader $1.4 trillion federal government-spending measure.