President Obama's pick for the budget office's second in command sailed through a Senate committee vote, clearing the way for his consideration by the full body.

Brian Deese, currently the National Economic Council deputy director, passed through the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee by a voice vote on Wednesday afternoon.

If confirmed, he will become the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced Wednesday it would propose to delay a set of certification requirements for crane and derrick operators.

OSHA laid out the new standards in August of 2010, and gave the industry four years to comply. Under the regulations, operators were to meet, by November of next year, one of four options to demonstrate they are qualified to handle the equipment.

Outside groups raised concerns about the regulations, prompting officials to consider changes.

In the meantime, OSHA said it would “will propose to extend the compliance date so that the qualification/certification requirements do not take effect during potential rulemaking or cause disruption to the construction industry,” according to a statement issued by the agency.

Under the proposal, the certification requirements would be put off for three years, taking effect in November of 2017.

Federal regulators are looking to crack down on telemarketing scams involving “remotely created” checks and other new payment technology.

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The Obama administration wants new regulations for mills that turn wood into pulp.

On Thursday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is scheduled to publish in the Federal Register a proposal governing plants that use chemicals to break down wood chips into a mush that can be used to make paper. 

Senators have proposed amendments to the $955 billion legislation designed to crack down on the genetic modification practices.

Legislators in the Senate are unveiling a bipartisan agreement to update federal toxic chemical regulations, though environmental groups are responding with mixed emotions.

Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and David Vitter (R-La.) on Wednesday released an agreement to update the Toxic Substances Control Act, the consumer safety law passed in 1976.

The bill, which has the support of 14 other senators from both parties, gives new powers to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and lays out a clearer path for bringing new chemicals to the market.

Six Democratic senators want stronger regulations for the international derivatives market.

American financial institutions' overseas offices are not currently subject to the same rules as their stateside branches, though the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) proposed to grant itself the authority to govern many international derivatives deals, known as cross-border swaps, last July. 

In a letter to CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler sent on Wednesday, six senators say those standards should be strict, because actions by foreign institutions can affect the American market.

Only a fraction of the GAO's recommended cuts targeting duplicative programs have been carried out.

House Republicans attacked the nation's top anti-discrimination enforcement officer for hurting employers with misguided priorities.

The chairwoman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) testified that she was just doing her job to combat unfair practices, despite a shrinking budget.

The commission is responsible for enforcing the federal government's workplace anti-discrimination laws.