Short Takes – 9-21-23

Bipartisan House group unveils alternate short-term spending plan amid GOP turmoil. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “The Problem Solvers Caucus agreement released late Wednesday would extend government funding at current levels through January 11, 2024, to give Congress more than three months more to agree on regular appropriations – much longer than the Oct. 31 target that Republicans are eyeing.”

Hazardous Materials: Modernizing Regulations To Improve Safety and Efficiency; Extension of Comment Period. Federal Register PHMSA comment extension. Summary: “On July 5, 2023, PHMSA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking, titled “Hazardous Materials: Modernizing Regulations to Improve Safety and Efficiency (HM–265A),” seeking comment of 46 topics related to modernizing the hazardous materials regulations to increase efficiency while maintaining and improving safety. In response to a request for an extension of the comment period submitted by the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, PHMSA is extending the comment period for the HM–265A notice for an additional 60 days. Comments to the HM–265A notice will now be due by December 4, 2023.”

Explainer: has life been discovered on an exoplanet? ChemistryWorld.com article. Pull quote: “‘It’s a very special kind of planet because it’s something that we don’t have in the solar system,’ explains Joanna Barstow, a planetary scientist specialising in the study of exoplanet atmospheres. ‘What’s being proposed for this planet is that it might be an “intermediate case” planet that has a bit of hydrogen and helium, but also quite a lot of water – a Hycean world.’”

Schumer sets up path for Senate to move first on funding stopgap. TheHill.com article.  Pull quote: “Schumer filed cloture on a motion to proceed to H.R. 3935, the House-passed bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which could serve as a legislative vehicle to pass a continuing resolution to fund government through the Senate.”