HR 7512 Introduced – CWMD Authorization

 Back in February, Rep Ogles (R,TN) introduced HR 7512, the Preserving Counterterrorism Capabilities Act of 2026. This bill is a clean reauthorization of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction. It changes the date in 6 USC 591(e) for the termination of the authorization of the Office from December 31st, 2023, to February 28th, 2027. No new funding is authorized by this legislation. 

The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office was authorized by 6 USC 591 on December 21st, 2018. That authorization terminated five years later {§591(e)}. Since there are no regulatory issues associated with the Office that need specific authorization, Congress has been able to continue funding the Office in spending bills without extending the termination date. 

Moving Forward  

Ogles is a member of the House Homeland Security Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be sufficienct influence to see this bill considered in Committee. I see nothing in ths bill that would engender any organized opposition. On the other hand, there is no regulatory issue that demands the reauthorization of this Office. If this bill were considered, I expect that it would receive bipartisan support, probably sufficient support to be considered by the full House under the suspension of the rules process. 

Commentary  

The FY 2027 Budget Request (pg 27) notes that the Administration intends to reorganize the CWMD Office, reducing the funding requested by $40 million. This bill would not address the changes being proposed by the Administration. It is not yet clear if there is support in Committee for the reorganization. If not, there may be changes made in this bill to codify the existing organization so that it would be more difficult to effect an administrative reorganization without specific congressional authorization. 

S 3741 Introduced – Biosynthesis Security

 Back in January, Sen Cotton (R,AR) introduced S 3741, the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act of 2026. The bill would require DOC to establish regulations that would ensure that covered providers “implement screening protocols to verify the identity and legitimacy of customers”. The bill does not include any requirements for physical or cybersecurity of covered provider facilities. No new funding is authorized. 

This bill will not receive additional coverage in this blog. 

Short Takes – 4-14-26 - Federal Register Edition

 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-Hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-Benzopyran (HHCB); Phthalic Anhydride; o-Dichlorobenzene (o-DCB) and p-Dichlorobenzene (p-DCB); Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) Peer Review; Draft Risk Evaluations; Notice of SACC Meeting; Availability of Draft Documents and Request for Comment. Federal Register EPA notice. Summary: “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing that there will be two virtual public meetings of the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC). On May 26, 2026, a preparatory meeting will be held for the SACC to consider the scope and clarity of the draft charge questions for the peer review of the draft risk evaluations for 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) and phthalic anhydride and the draft hazard assessments for o-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB) and p-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB). The peer review meeting will be held June 8 through 12, 2026, for the SACC to consider the draft risk evaluations for HHCB and phthalic anhydride, the draft hazard assessments for o-DCB and p-DCB, the technical support documents, and their public comments. EPA is also announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment on the draft documents and charge questions that will be provided to the SACC for this peer review. The draft risk evaluations and draft hazard assessments were prepared under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and will be submitted to the SACC for peer review.” 

1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-Hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-Benzopyran (HHCB) and Phthalic Anhydride Draft Risk Evaluations Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Notice of Availability and Request for Comment. Federal Register EPA notice. Summary: “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on draft risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) and phthalic anhydride. The purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use (COUs), including unreasonable risk to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by EPA, and without consideration of costs or non-risk factors. EPA is seeking comment on the draft risk evaluations for HHCB and phthalic anhydride.” 

Petition for Rulemaking-Amendments to Regulations Governing Ex Parte Communications. Federal Register STB advanced notice of proposed rulemaking. Summary: “The Surface Transportation Board has received a petition asking it to revise and streamline the rules governing ex parte communications. The Board is considering several changes to its ex parte regulations and seeks comment from interested persons on the changes being considered. The Board also invites commenters to identify additional options for revisions to the Board's ex parte communications rules.” 

Implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act Guidance. Federal Register CEQ notice of availability. Summary: “On April 9, 2026, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a memorandum to the heads of Federal departments and agencies (agencies) on establishing, revising, adopting, and applying categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This guidance replaces initial guidance on the same subject issued on December 6, 2010.” 

Modification to the Start of the Submission Period for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Reporting and Recordkeeping Under TSCA 8(a)(7). Federal Register EPA final rule. Summary: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to revise the start of the reporting period for the Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Reporting and Recordkeeping Rule (PFAS Reporting Rule). Pursuant to this action, the submission period for the PFAS Reporting Rule will begin on January 31, 2027, or 60 days following the effective date of a forthcoming final rule on the substantive requirements of the PFAS Reporting Rule, whichever is earlier.” 

Looking Back – 12-1-2009

 Nearly every morning I start my computer time by looking at information from Google about what happened in my blog in the previous 24 hours. Google, and blogspot.com is a Google service, provides interesting pieces of analytical data about my blog readership. One item of particular interest is the top ten blog posts each day. As you would expect, most of those posts were from the last couple of days, but with 16 years of publishing this blog, every once-in-a-while, a blog post from ancient history rises into that list. 

Today a blog post from December 1st, 2009, ‘Temporary Storage of Chlorine Railcars’, makes the list. It discusses the issue of storing a large number of chlorine railcars on a remote siding. The regulatory climate remains much the same, though the transportation security regulations have been expanded to include highly hazardous flammable trains. And, of course, the references to the CFATS regulations are no longer valid, since that program was discontinued due to inaction on the part of Congress. 

Review – Committee Hearings – Week of 4-12-26

 With both the House and Senate returning to Washington from their two-week Easter Recess, there is a surprisingly lite hearing schedule. The President’s FY 2027 Budget Request dropped a week ago, so there will be lots of hearings surrounding that proposed spending plan. Other than that there is just one markup hearing of interest here and that is in the Senate. 

Budget Hearings  

The list below is hardly exhaustive, but it does reflect the scheduled hearings of interest here. 

House 

Wednesday - The President's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request, 

Wednesday – Budget Hearing - Department of Energy, 

Thursday - The Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Energy Budget, and 

Thursday - Budget Hearing – Department of Homeland Security: CISA, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Secret Service, and FEMA. 

Senate 

Thursday - The President's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal, 

Markup Hearing  

On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will reconvene a business meeting to consider nine aviation and space related bills. Bills of specific interest there are: 

S 1962, the Secure Space Act of 2025, and 

S 3404, the Satellite Cybersecurity Act of 2025. 

For more information on these hearings, including a brief look at the floor schedules for House and Senate, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/committee-hearings-week-of-4-12-26 - subscription required.