- Foxx asks to extend comment period on overtime rule
- Biden administration announces 31 Tech Hubs
Foxx asks to extend comment period on overtime rule
The chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee is asking the U.S. Labor Department to extend the public comment period on its proposed overtime rule that could affect thousands of community college employees.
In a letter to Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina) said because of the far-reaching impact the regulatory change could have on businesses, nonprofits and others, she would like the department to extend its 60-day public comment period by another 60 days.
“Overtime regulations have far-reaching implications for both employers and employees,” Foxx wrote. “Any effort resulting in increased compliance costs and confusion will need to be considered along with labor market trends, current economic conditions, and other burdens that already negatively affect nonprofits, institutions of higher education, private sector businesses, and other employers.”
Foxx’s committee postponed a scheduled hearing this week on the proposed rule.
Biden administration announces 31 Tech Hubs
The Biden administration on Monday announced the designation of 31 “Tech Hubs” to help drive technological innovation and job creation in the selected regions.
The hubs will focus on industries ranging from biotechnology and semiconductor manufacturing, to clean energy and more. The winners were selected from nearly 400 applications from regional consortia that included industry, academia, state and local governments, economic development organizations, and labor and workforce partners.
The designation is an endorsement of the submitted regional plans. The selected consortia can now apply for implementation grants. The U.S. Commerce Department will award $40 million to $70 million each to five to 10 Tech Hubs for multiple projects.
The department also has awarded 29 Strategy Development Grants to help communities increase local coordination and planning activities that could make them more competitive for future Tech Hub funding opportunities.
The hubs were authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act that the president signed into law in 2022.
