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December 10, 2019
Congress was out of session November 25-29. From December 2-5, fourteen bills were referred to committee to address environmental and energy issues. In addition to the introduction of environmentally relevant legislation, Senate committees approved four and House committees approved two. One bill passed the Senate.
This week, Congress focused on water related environmental issues. S.2978 and S.914 would expand research for clean water and oceans. Marine conservation was another common topic. S.2975 would prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, and S.906 would reduce bycatch.
Congress also presented bills on land use issues. H.R.5303 would prohibit oil and gas leasing on public land in the Central Coast of California and S.529 would reduce losses from landslides.
Be sure to read through the rest of the round-up; the 116th Congress has covered a lot of ground, and the best way to keep up to date is to see the bills for yourself. EESI has curated bills most relevant to energy, environment, and climate topics. The bill list belows is drawn directly from congress.gov
Senate
Bills Referred to Committee:
S.2960 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to require individuals fishing for Gulf reef fish to use certain descending devices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (Introduced 12/02/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate - Commerce, Science, and Transportation
S.2975 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in western waters, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (Introduced 12/04/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate - Environment and Public Works
S.2978 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to ensure consideration of water intensity in the Department of Energy's energy research, development, and demonstration programs to help guarantee efficient, reliable, and sustainable delivery of energy and clean water resources.
Sponsor: Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV] (Introduced 12/04/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
S.2980 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to require the promulgation of certain standards for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (Introduced 12/04/2019) Cosponsors: (4)
S.2981 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to reauthorize and amend the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps Act of 2002, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (Introduced 12/04/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
S.2985 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land in the State of Kentucky as the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Bills Approved by Committee:
S.529 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
National Landslide Preparedness Act
Sponsor: Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] (Introduced 02/14/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
S.906 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act
Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] (Introduced 03/27/2019) Cosponsors: (4)
S.908 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
Fluke Fairness Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (Introduced 03/27/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
S.914 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (Introduced 03/27/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Bills Passed:
H.R.1138 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To reauthorize the West Valley demonstration project, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23] (Introduced 02/11/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce | Senate - Energy and Natural Resources
Committee Reports: S. Rept. 116-69
House
H.R.5288 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 to direct the Secretary of the Army to develop a plan to address water resource problems in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO-3] (Introduced 12/03/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Transportation and Infrastructure
H.Res.737 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the efforts of the Federal Government to address the public health and environmental crisis on the Navajo Nation caused by abandoned uranium mines.
Sponsor: Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1] (Introduced 12/03/2019) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House - Energy and Commerce; Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R.5302 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize certain recycled water projects, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9] (Introduced 12/04/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House - Natural Resources
H.R.5303 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To establish a moratorium on oil and gas leasing on public land on the Central Coast of California.
Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] (Introduced 12/04/2019) Cosponsors: (15)
H.R.5305 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating certain land as the Kentucky Wildlands National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
H.R.5311 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To amend the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 to renew the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council and to amend the Act of October 14, 1980 to remove the limitation on the transfer of amounts available under the reforestation trust fund, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House - Agriculture
H.R.5316 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
To provide for the restoration of the original carrying capacity of canals impacted by land subsidence, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cox, TJ [D-CA-21] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (4)
H.Res.743 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
Expressing strong disapproval of the President's formal notification to the United Nations of his intent to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.
Sponsor: Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (153)
Committees: House - Foreign Affairs
Bills Approved By Committee:
H.R.2185 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
District of Columbia Flood Prevention Act of 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (Introduced 04/09/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
H.R.2405 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)
National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (Introduced 04/30/2019) Cosponsors: (49)
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