Congressional Environmental Action

CLIMATE CHANGE:

On 3/9, House leaders announced the members of the newly created House Select Committee on Climate Change. Rep. Markey (D-MA) will chair the panel of nine Democrats and six Republicans, with Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-WI) filling the role of raning Republican. The remaining committee members are Democrats Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Cleaver (D-MO), Rep. Hall (D-NY), Rep. Herseth (D-SD), Rep. Inslee (D-WA), Rep. Larson (D-CT), Rep. McNerney (D-CA), and Rep. SOlis (D-CA); and Republicans Rep. Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Miller (R-MI), Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), Rep. Sullivan (R-OK), and Rep. Walden (R-OR).

WATER:

During the week of 3/5, the House passed three bills aimed primarily at upgrading the nation's aging wastewater treatment infrastucture. The largest of the three, H.R. 720, would authorize $14 billion over four years for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, a federal low-interest wastewater loan program. The bill, instroduced by Rep. Oberstar (D-MN), seeks to make up for funding shortfalls in the Bush administration's fiscal 2008 budget request for water programs. The measure passed 303-108.

The House also passed H.R. 569, the "Water Quality Investment Act of 2007." This bull would address the problem of sewer averflows by autorizing $1.8 billion in grants over five years. Sponsored by Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ), the measure seeks to help cities address severe funding shortfalls for upgrading aging sewer systems that carry sanitary waste and stormwater runoff to treatment plants through the same pipes. The bill, which passed by a vote of 367-58, now heads to the Senate, where companion legislation has been introduced by Sen. Snowe (R-ME) and Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ).

The third bill, H.R. 700, would revive an Environmental Protection Agency pilot program that funds projects intended to provide new drinking water sources for communities. The "Healthy Communities Water Supply Act," sponsored by Rep. McNerney (D-CA), would approve $125 million for the program. The bill passed by a margin of 368-59. Senate plans to take up these water bills remain unclear. President Bush has threatened to veto all three bills, citing the cost as "unrealistic in the current fiscal environment."

(Source for info: NRDC)