Aon Washington Report
July 24, 2017
Other HR/Employment
Trump Administration Releases Updated 2017 Regulatory Agenda
The Trump Administration recently released its updated Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, which provides an updated report on the actions federal administrative agencies (e.g., the Department of Labor, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of the Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, etc.) plan to issue in the near and long term. The agendas include regulatory plans and priorities for 2017 and provide a framework of activity expected throughout the remainder of the year. Departments and agencies may delay the release of regulations at any time, so it is important to note that projected timelines are estimates and may not be met by the date(s) indicated in the agendas.
A variety of regulations are scheduled to be issued in the months ahead potentially impacting health care, retirement, compensation, and employment. For additional information, please refer to the specific regulatory agendas.
The link to the Current Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (i.e., updated Regulatory Agendas and Plans, searchable by department and agency) is available here.
Aon Publications
Senate GOP Releases ACA "Repeal Now, Replace Later" Bill
On July 19, 2017, capping an extraordinary week in which the Senate GOP leadership saw its version of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) “repeal and replace” legislation suffer a series of party defections on a crucial procedural vote, the Senate GOP leadership released its latest attempt at health care reform.
The “Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act of 2017” (ORRA) is based on a repeal bill passed in 2015 by the House of Representatives and the Senate but vetoed by then-President Obama. ORRA would repeal various provisions of the ACA, but delay the effective date of repeal for two years, during which Congress would craft replacement legislation. Assuming the Senate votes to proceed to debate, a vote on a health care bill could occur next week.
However, a motion to proceed to debate on legislation requires at least 50 senators to vote in favor, with the Vice President breaking the tie. With only 52 Republican Senators (none of the 48 Democrats are expected to vote “yes”), three GOP defections would be enough to prevent any legislation from reaching the floor of the Senate. Despite the setbacks earlier last week, negotiations on the legislation are apparently proceeding.
The Aon bulletin, which provides a brief overview of the ORRA and includes links to the bill text and CBO cost estimate, can be found here.