July was an exciting month for employer-sponsored health and welfare benefits. Many of the changes discussed provide plan sponsors with increased flexibility to optimize benefits.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), continues to actively pursue investigations under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. These investigations aim to determine whether specific imports threaten to impair U.S. national security. In recent months, BIS has significantly broadened the scope of its inquiries, reflecting heightened concerns over supply chain resilience, critical infrastructure, and technological competitiveness. This alert provides an overview of the currently active investigations and offers practical guidance for stakeholders, including how to participate in the public comment process.