The Chinese Government's Official Web Portal reports that China's State Council, the country's Cabinet, recently issued an implementation regulation for the Labor Contract Law in an effort to clarify confusion surrounding the law. (Chinese Government press release, dated 09/18/08, available at http://english.gov.cn/2008-09/18/content_1099209.htm)
On Monday, September 15, 2008, the President signed into law H.R. 6532, which transfers $8.017 billion to the Highway Trust Fund from the Treasury General Fund. (White House statement, dated 09/15/08, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080915-11.html.)
The Government Accountability Office issued its report entitled "Electronic Waste: EPA Needs to Better Control Harmful U.S. Exports through Stronger Enforcement and More Comprehensive Regulation." (GAO-08-1044, dated August 2008, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081044.pdf)
The Government Accountability Office has issued testimony entitled, "Secure Border Initiative: DHS Needs to Address Significant Risks in Delivering Key Technology Investment," which states, among other things, that it is unclear and uncertain when and how SBInet capabilities will be delivered, and that SBInet has not been effectively managed. (GAO-08-1148T, dated 09/10/08, available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d081148t.pdf)
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has issued an interim final rule, effective September 8, 2008, which amends its Economic Sanctions Enforcement Guidelines for persons subject to the requirements of U.S. sanctions statutes, executive orders and regulations.
On September 11, 2008, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee reported with amendments S. 2997, a bill to reauthorize the Maritime Administration, and for other purposes (S. Rept. 110-457). (Daily Digest, dated 09/11/08, available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/B?r110:@FIELD(FLD003d)@FIELD(DDATE20080911))
The Office of Foreign Assets Control has posted to its Web site a new General License No. 1 authorizing for 180 days transactions between U.S. persons and two entities that were previously designated pursuant to Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, Blocking Property of Certain Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Belarus.
1. CBP’s Instructions on HOPE II for Haiti Expected Soon
1. LB/LA Ports Notice on Intermodal Container Facility Board Meeting
The Bureau of Industry and Security has issued a final rule, effective August 21, 2008, to expand the scope of reasons for adding parties to the Entity List.