2017 April | Page 2

APRIL 2017 DID YOU KNOW? The number of safety violations involving unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, has continued to rise. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received 1,274 reports of safety violations last year, a 46 percent increase over 2015. The agency has stated that the integration of drones into the U.S. airspace system is a top priority, but that operating drones around an aircraft is dangerous and illegal. IN THIS ISSUE • • • Trump Administration Releases Budget Blueprint. The Trump administration released a preliminary budget blueprint that proposes to increase defense spending and eliminate select federal programs. How Your Business Pays for Employee Substance Abuse. A new study from the NSC shows how substance use disorders can affect your business’s bottom line. 53 Million Vehicles Recalled in 2016. Ongoing issues with airbag inflators manufactured by Takata contributed to a record number of vehicle recalls last year. Provided by: Marshall & Sterling Insurance Trump Administration Releases Budget Blueprint The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently released a blueprint for President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. The office stated that the main goals of the budget are to increase spending on defense and to eliminate wasteful and duplicative federal programs. The blueprint is only preliminary, as it only accounts for approximately one-third of the total budget and gives no projections for how potential tax cuts or other initiatives could affect the budget. The blueprint continues the Trump administration’s focus on reducing the prevalence of federal agencies through a number of budget cuts. Here are some of the highlights: • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The OMB has proposed to cut the budget of the EPA by over $2 billion by eliminating over 50 programs and delegating environmental responsibilities to individual states. The office also stated that it would reorient the EPA’s air program to protect air quality without burdening the U.S. economy. • Department of Labor and OSHA: The budget blueprint includes the elimination of select OSHA training grants. The OMB believes that these programs are unproven, and will result in $11 million in savings compared to fiscal year 2017. For more information on regulatory changes under the Trump administration, contact us at 800-724-0695 today.