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The Softwood Lumber Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order has been amended to increase the assessment rate from $0.35 to $0.41 per thousand board feet. This rule is administered by the Softwood Lumber Board under the oversight of the Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA. The additional funds will support ongoing and new initiatives to promote softwood lumber. This change follows the review of past expenditures and revenues and aims to support the lumber industry's growth, addressing both current challenges and new opportunities.

The Rural Housing Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has introduced a final rule updating how credit reports are obtained for the eligibility and feasibility assessments in the Multifamily Housing Programs. Starting January 30, 2025, applicants will need to provide their own credit reports instead of paying a fee for the agency to do it, simplifying the process and aligning with industry practices. This update also includes adding definitions and specific requirements for credit reports, aiming to streamline and modernize the applications for housing loans and grants in rural areas.

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a consent agreement with Chemence, Inc. to address allegations of deceptive practices related to their claims about products being "Made in USA." The FTC found that Chemence falsely advertised their glue products as primarily made in the United States, while much of the materials were sourced from abroad. The proposed order includes a $1.2 million judgment and guidelines for future advertising and compliance measures, including preventing Chemence from making false claims about product origins unless they accurately reflect manufacturing and material sources. This action is part of a shift towards stricter enforcement of "Made in USA" claims, aiming to protect consumers and honest competitors.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. has proposed a rule change to list and trade shares of the Bitwise XRP ETF under its Commodity-Based Trust Shares rules. The ETF aims to track the performance of XRP, a digital asset used for fast and low-cost cross-border payments. The proposal is designed to prevent fraud and manipulation while protecting investors, mirroring previous approvals for similar ETFs based on Bitcoin and Ethereum. The SEC is currently seeking public comments on this proposal before deciding on its approval.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has released a notice that the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. is proposing a rule change to allow the listing and trading of shares of the Canary XRP Trust under BZX Rule 14.11(e)(4). The proposal aims to list these shares, which are linked to the digital asset XRP, on a regulated exchange. The document also discusses the measures in place to prevent fraudulent activities, while ensuring investor protection by exposing U.S. investors to XRP through a regulated, exchange-traded product. The public is invited to comment on this proposal to ensure adherence to the rules governing fair and transparent markets.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering a proposal from the Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. to list and trade shares of the WisdomTree XRP Fund. This fund would allow investors to invest in XRP, a type of digital asset, through a regulated exchange-traded product rather than directly buying and holding XRP. The proposal includes various measures to prevent fraud and manipulation in the trading of XRP and claims that these measures would protect investors. The Commission is seeking public comments on whether or not they should approve this rule change.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that Cboe BZX Exchange, Inc. has proposed a rule change to allow the listing and trading of shares in the Franklin XRP Fund under a specific rule for Commodity-Based Trust Shares. This fund, known as the Franklin XRP ETF, intends to offer investors a way to gain exposure to XRP, a digital asset, in a regulated exchange-traded format, and it highlights measures to ensure protection against fraud and market manipulation. The proposal argues that XRP's market characteristics make it resistant to manipulation, thus meriting exemption from certain regulatory agreements. Public comments on this proposal are being solicited and will be reviewed by the SEC before making any final decisions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to submit an information collection request for the SmartWay Transport Partnership to the Office of Management and Budget. The EPA is asking for public comments on the proposed data collection, which aims to assess energy and air quality in the freight industry, including strategies to reduce idling and fuel consumption. Organizations involved in freight operations can join the program and must report transportation-related data annually. The response to this collection is voluntary, with the estimated total annual cost for respondents being $732,210.

The Department of Commerce is proposing to continue its information collection via the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS). This survey helps gather detailed, frequent, and timely data on U.S. economic conditions and trends. With a target of 795,000 respondents, the survey will be conducted biweekly and seeks to include more multi-unit businesses for comprehensive economic representation. The department is also revising the survey to focus on core questions and plans to extend it for another three years, along with a possibility of including updated questions on artificial intelligence. Public comments are invited within 30 days on the proposed collection.

The Department of Commerce is planning to submit an information collection request for the Annual Business Survey (ABS) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This survey aims to reduce the burden on businesses while gathering data on business characteristics, such as research and development, innovation, and demographics of business owners. The 2025 survey will include a reduced sample size and changes to the survey process to be more efficient, with data collected through an online questionnaire. This information will help various stakeholders, including government and business leaders, understand and assess business dynamics in the U.S.