Obama continues cabinet nominations, OMB analyzes regulatory costs and benefits, and more.
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a draft of its annual report on the costs and benefits of major federal regulations.
- President Obama announced his nomination of Tom Wheeler to serve as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
- President Obama nominated Anthony Foxx, the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, to lead the Department of Transportation (DOT).
- President Obama nearly completed nominations to fill his cabinet by announcing his appointments of Penny Pritzker to head the Department of Commerce (DOC) and Michael Froman to be the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
- The White House released information making it possible to easily analyze data from its “We the People” petition website.
- The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its intention to challenge a federal district court order making Plan B emergency contraception available over-the-counter to all women, regardless of age. That decision was revealed hours after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally approved the sale of Plan B over-the-counter to women fifteen and older.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated to produce a new report on the recent decline in the health of honeybees.
- The USDA forwarded a proposed rule, intended to expand regulation of online puppy sellers, to the White House for final review.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pledged to review the effectiveness of triclosan, a key ingredient in antibacterial soaps.
