Administration accommodates religious groups, Treasury announces delay of employer mandates, and more.
- The Obama Administration issued rules accommodating religious groups’ objections to providing birth control coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced a one year delay in enforcing the ACA employer and insurer reporting mandates.
- The U.S. government began extending retirement and health insurance benefits to the same-sex spouses of federal employees.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the agency’s updated rule on new power plant greenhouse gas emissions.
- The U.S. Department of Energy proposed a rule to add portable air conditioning units to the list of covered items under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a rule to amend the agency’s mortgage rules issued in January 2013.
- The U.S. Department of Energy settled with the EPA, agreeing to improve waste handling and to pay $136,000.
- The federal subsidized Stafford loan interest rate doubled to 6.8%.
- President Obama released an executive order telling agencies to combat wildlife trafficking.
- Mt. Gox, the largest Bitcoin exchange, registered with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network as a money services business.
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a rule restricting websites, games, apps, and ad networks from knowingly collecting information from children under thirteen.
