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Bah Humbug: Appropriations Bill Contains Lump of Coal for DoL on "Fair Pay" Funding

Client Alert | less than 1 min read | 12.21.15

The FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, passed on December 18, 2015, did not appropriate funds to establish an Office of Labor Compliance within DoL to implement the "Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces" Executive Order, as requested by the Obama Administration. By declining to appropriate the requested funds, Congress pumped the brakes on the implementation of the EO, which, as described here, would impose burdensome compliance and reporting obligations on federal contractors and subcontractors.

Insights

Client Alert | 6 min read | 03.06.26

Tri-Agencies Release Fourth Mental Health Parity Report to Congress

On March 3, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of the Treasury (TREAS) — collectively, the “Tri-Agencies” — published their fourth annual report to Congress on enforcement of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The 2025 Report demonstrates a shift in approach by the Tri-Agencies in its tone and content and suggests that federal regulators, and the DOL in particular, are not as active as they previously were in MHPAEA enforcement. However, federal enforcement remains ongoing, and state enforcement of mental health parity laws continues to grow. Plans and issuers must continue to maintain comprehensive compliance processes and documentation for MHPAEA compliance....